Antipodes: The Winterlandsby HawkysuChaptersPrologueChapter OneChapter TwoChapter 3PrologueAntipodes The Winterlands "The Court finds you guilty of High Crimes against the Council. You are hereby Exiled from the Community." The white colt gulped. He hadn't expected this. Yes, he knew the risks of going against the Council. Yes, he fully expected he would be caught. Yes, he knew that, once he was caught, he would be found guilty of whatever crimes they could find. But exile? No, he was not prepared for that. Judging from the sudden outcry in the courtroom, neither was anyone else. Society revolved around twelve loosely defined rules: the Three Laws and the Corrections. If a pony broke any of the Corrections, he was imprisoned, placed in the stocks for any number of days. If a pony broke any of the Laws, he was sentenced to death. There was no debate. The Community viewed those as the only merciful punishments. They were swift and painless. In the two hundred years since its founding, the Community only sentenced three ponies to exile. The first was one of the Community's founding members. He was the one who convinced others to follow and established the Three Laws. He wanted a society where everyone was bound to the same rules. Except for him, of course. The founding Council member believed he was above the Laws. When the others found out his blatant disrespect for the Community, they set out to have him killed. But nopony had the heart to deliver the sentence. Instead, they exiled him, believing it the better option. After they found his body, they realized their mistake. Death was more merciful. On the day he was buried, the first Correction was added. You shall act an equal. The second pony sentenced to exile was, perhaps, the only one to truly deserve it. She, like most mares in the Community, was a breeder. She was raised to sustain the Community's population. But she cared little for the foals she produced. As the years went on, and as she slipped into madness, she turned to a darkness beyond words. She broke the first two Laws, and, by extension, the third. When they caught her, on her third dead foal, the Court gave her the punishment she deserved. Death was far too kind. They made no attempt to look for her body. After she left the Community, the fifth Correction was added. You shall be aware of madness. The third pony to be exiled deserved nothing but an official pardon. She was merely a child. She had done nothing wrong, except make enemies. She'd gotten on the wrong side of a few influential ponies. They accused her of crimes beyond her abilities, crimes that never occurred at all. She was clearly innocent, but she had no support in the Court. The judge tried to reason with the crowd. In that time, however, he was forced to listen to the jury. They overruled his decision. The filly was exiled. Her body was never found. A few days after she was forced to leave, the seventh Correction was added. You shall obey the Court and its decisions. The judge slammed his hoof against the mahogany desk. Immediately, the room fell silent. Everypony turned his attention back to the floor, awaiting for the final statement. "Do you accept and understand this sentence?" That line was simply a formality. Even if the unicorn said no, he would still receive the same sentence. At best, he could delay his punishment for another twenty minutes while the Court reread his crimes and repeated his sentence. At worst, he would lose what little power he had left. He would go from martyrdom, hopefully, to cowardice. The white stallion glared up at the judge. If he was going to suffer outside the Community, he would not let anypony forget his face. His sentence was passed, but he would make sure that the Community heard his message. He gave up everything for this moment. He cleared his throat to speak. "I willingly accept." His voice was stolid. "I would rather suffer in the ice than live under traitors." The pony turned. He trained his dark-blue eyes on the rest of the courtroom. The others watched him, completely silent. "The Council has betrayed you all. They abused the Laws for personal gain. They—" The colt didn't get the chance to finish. He felt something hard hit his head, and the world faded to black. Suddenly, he was very cold. And wet. The unicorn opened his eyes in surprise. he jumped to his feet, orientating himself. He was in a small chamber, no larger than his bedroom. The walls lacked the familiar smooth carving of those within the Community's confines. The floor was rough, threatening to cut through his hooves. He was now outside the Community. At least they hadn't thrown him into the snow while he was out. Thank the Godesses for small favors. A dark brown stallion sat in front of him. The earth pony dropped the bucket and passed a towel to the white unicorn. "Dry yourself off. You don't want to go out with a wet mane." The two stood in silence while the unicorn patted himself down. He could already feel the crystals forming on his sky blue mane. He shook the last couple drops away from his forelock and passed the towel back to the earth pony. The stallion took it, keeping his gaze locked on the younger colt. With any other pony, the unicorn would return the stare. But he couldn't. He just stared at the other pony's hooves. "You are the dumbest pony I've ever met." The white unicorn chewed his lip. "And I've met a lot of dumb ponies. Why? What would possess you to go and do that?" The white pony shook his head, his pale mane flopping back and forth. He suddenly felt years younger. He couldn't face the lecture with any courage. He could only sit and listen. The brown stallion sighed. "I don't know if what they said was true, and I don't care. You brought this all on yourself. You should have just kept your mouth shut, let someone else take the fall. You could have lived your life in peace. You could have just moved on. Instead, you go and get yourself exiled. Good job. I'm real proud of you." "I'm sorry, Father." The white unicorn glanced up at the imposing stallion, tears forming in his eyes. He didn't care that he was an adult. He just wanted to apologize and have everything go back to normal. The brown pony shook his head. He turned away, opening a metal door. The door that lead back to the warmth of society. "Don't forget your bags." The stallion stepped through the door, pulling is closed. A moment later, the two locks clicked. The unicorn stared at the metal door. It was official. The Community was closed to him. His home, the only life he'd ever known, cast him out. And it was all his fault. He tried to fight against the Council. He saw their blatant neglect for the Laws and he tried to correct them. He tried to inform others. He tried to make everypony else see the abuse. He tried. And he failed. He became the Council's scapegoat. The Council had to admit that someone broke the Laws. The unicorn exposed three murders, one for each Council member. He was sure that there were countless others. But he didn’t plan anything through. He panicked. And he sought justice. The Council, for obvious reasons, was well respected. They lead by example. Each member, supposedly, obeyed the rules perfectly. They took care of those under their care, making sure everyone was alright. Anypony who suggested something different was ludicrous. Possibly insane. The Council could not deny the death of three young mares. But they could easily pass the blame. Featherweight, the eldest member, immediately reversed the blame. The others quickly followed his example. They claimed the white stallion had set the Council up. The unicorn was attempting to overthrow the Council and force the Community into anarchy. He'd murdered three innocent ponies and tried to pin the blame on Council members. He was attempting to incite riots. Perhaps start a rebellion. Featherweight, Dusk, and Silversteed had made one mistake, though. They let him talk, and then they silenced him. They claimed he broke the second Law, but gave him a punishment considered far too severe. A majority of the ponies would think nothing of it. They'd assume the white colt was simply insane. Someone would put two and two together, though. Somepony would realize he was not crazy. That somepony would pick up where the unicorn left off. Hopefully, that pony wouldn't fail. The unicorn sighed, turning toward the saddlebags. There was no use to pining after his home. He couldn't just unlock the door and walk back in. His work was done. Whatever he had started would run its course without him. He might as well move on. The bags were generic, not that he expected anything more. Even if his father was the Court's executioner, he didn't expect any special treatment. As far as anypony was concerned, the white colt was a traitor. He checked the saddlebags to see what supplies he'd been allowed. He stared at them confused. He hadn't expected so much. In all honesty, he hadn't expected anything. The bags held three days supply of food, a heavy cloak, and a basic fire starting kit. With these materials, the unicorn could easily survive a couple days before he froze to death. If he was lucky, he wouldn't live past one. The white pony wrapped the cloak around himself, mentally preparing for his journey. For a moment, he debated staying outside the Community until he starved. With the food he was given, he could survive a week before he starved. In that time, they'd send out a party to look for his body. He could lie in wait, and take the ponies by surprise. He could force his way back into the Community. But to what purpose? The unicorn was lucky if they wouldn't all think he was insane. Starving himself for the chance of reentry wouldn't help his case. He kicked the wooden door open. Immediately, he was greeted with a gust of icy air. Even through the heavy cloak, he could feel the sting of the frost. The unicorn gave one last, longing stare at the locked metal door. Finally, after another farewell, he decided he could not delay any longer. White Leaf stepped out into the cold. Chapter OneAntipodes The Winterlands The wind bit at White Leaf's face. His cheeks stung as the cold continued to toy with him. He winced at each strike. But the unicorn cherished the feeling. It let him know he was alive. For the time, that was enough. The pale pony stuck a hoof out experimentally. It, and most of his leg, disappeared into the swirling white. If he couldn't feel the occasional stab of ice, he'd have sworn his leg was gone entirely. Everything beyond his nose was pure white. Essentially, he was blind. The pony pressed on, hoping that anything he bumped into would either be dead or dying. White Leaf had heard plenty of stories about the creatures that stalk the outside world. Monsters lurked in the shadows. Savage ponies hunted the innocent. Titans, beasts of terrific sizes, paraded through the land. All manner of evils awaited the chance to kill him. Unfortunately for everyone, he would probably freeze to death before something could eat him.The decent thing to do would be to curl up and wait. When the search party came looking for his body, they wouldn't have to go far. But nopony expected him to be decent. He was an exile. It was time he acted like one. Go West. In school, they'd always told him to go West. If he should ever be trapped outside the Community, he should just head West. Unfortunately, they never taught him how to find West—or North or any other direction—much less, how to do it when he was blind. White Leaf decided he should just go straight until he ran into something. Then he would figure out a plan from there. For now, he had two goals. One, keep moving. If he had to die, he'd rather not freeze. As long as he continued heading somewhere, he would be safe. Well, safer. Two, find shelter. White Leaf really didn't care what he found, as long as it would protect him from the cold. Then he could start a fire, eat, and sleep. Sleep for as long as he wanted. Exhausted, the unicorn pressed on. "Alright class," Antiquity started. White Leaf perked up. He hadn't noticed her walk in. Truth be told, the unicorn cared little for school. He found it dull and, ultimately, pointless. A pony's role in society was determined by his Mark and by the Council. As long as he could read and write, he was set. That said, White Leaf treasured Antiquity's lessons. The history teacher was the Community's only female instructor, but that didn't hold her back. She completely made up for her shortcomings with her stories. The blue mare knew the Community's entire history. She crafted each lesson around some story. She believed ponies learned best when they had some way to associate with it. "It's time we discussed the founding of the Community and the three Laws." Antiquity smiled. The room was completely silent. Every colt turned to her with rapt attention. The moment the Laws were mentioned, things got serious. "Nearly two hundred years ago, three great heroes left the safety of Trotston for the freedom of a new land. They were Sir Stolid the Unwavering, Sir Swift the Deft, and Emerald. An earth pony, a pegasus and a unicorn. Sir Stolid was renown for his virtue and his strength. He acted as the captain of Trotston's guard. Sir Stolid fought creatures—monsters twice his size with ease. He saved the city from countless threats. But as time went on, and as Sir Stolid's strength began to wane, he spent more time within the city. He soon began to notice something unnerving. "Sir Swift was Sir Stolid's replacement. Whereas the latter relied on strength, the former relied on his wits. They had fought together several times. They were close, like father and son. As the duties of his position began to lessen, Sir Swift was soon informed of a darkness within Trotston. "Emerald was not a soldier. But he was a pony of great importance. Emerald was one of Trotston's two princes. He was compassionate, often going out of his way to please his subjects. Emerald spent as much time with the citizens of Trotston as he could. Like Sir Stolid and Sir Swift, Prince Emerald also discovered a darkness. "Trotston was ruled by one pony, Emerald's brother, Sapphire. Prince Sapphire was not a benevolent pony. He led with an iron hoof, taking much and giving little. He sheltered his brother and his soldiers from the truth. But he couldn't hide it forever. The three ponies discovered his neglect for his subjects. "The heroes revealed the truth to those considered elite, those with power. Prince Sapphire demanded they remain silent. He was afraid he would lose his crown. Emerald attempted to work out a peaceful solution. As long as the ruling prince would forfeit his throne, Prince Emerald would never mention his cruelty. Sapphire was far too fond of his power. He refused to give up the crown and turned to fight his brother. "Sir Stolid and Sir Swift wished to meet the challenge. They decided they would take Trotston by force. But Emerald was wise. Despite his neglect, Sapphire had far too many loyal followers. Fighting would cost them everything. He convinced the others to flee. They gathered all the ponies they could and left Trotston. "They followed the moon until they could walk no more. They happened upon a cave. The three heroes carefully searched it. They found a shelter large enough for forty times their force. The ponies decided they would settle there for the night." Antiquity paused. The room was eerily silent, as if everypony was too afraid to even breathe until she was done. When she felt she had suffered the quiet long enough, Antiquity resumed. Her soft, rhythmic voice fill the room again. "One night turned into one week, and then into a month. The ponies worked to make the cave more habitable. Within a year, the Community was founded. It was without leadership. Everypony simply focused on their own selves. Finally, the three heroes decided to form the Council. Under the guidance of a government, the Community could truly turn into a thriving society. "For weeks, the ponies debated the rules governing their society. They all understood the necessity of laws but were unable to devise a fair system. Unicorns and pegasi would need restrictions that didn't apply to earth ponies. No matter how they worked it, one group would suffer more than another. "Finally, Emerald found a solution. The Council was run by three ponies, one of each race. The first Council consisted of Sir Stolid, Sir Swift, and Prince Emerald. They would each create one law that applied to the ponies equally. If necessary, they could modify their laws later." Antiquity paused to write something on the blackboard. "Sir Stolid was a proud soldier. But as he aged, he became less concerned with fighting and more concerned with living. He created the first Law." Antiquity wrote You shall not kill next to Sir Stolid's name. "Sir Swift was the youngest of the Council members, but he was concerned for the future. He wished to see the Community grow. With a small population, any mistakes could hurt their chances of survival. The alternative interpretation to his law didn't come about until after his death." Anitiquity wrote You shall further society. Unlike her voice, Antiquity's writing was anything but pleasant. It was barely readable. "Prince Emerald had a plan for the future as well. He knew they would need to make adjustments, Corrections, at some point. Three ponies could not plan for an eternity. He created the most important Law." You shall obey the Council. Antiquity gave everypony a moment to copy everything she'd written. By this time, the colts were expected to know the Laws by heart. In a few years, after they all had gotten their Marks, they would be assigned tasks and treated as adults. That meant they'd be tried as adults. No pardons, no exceptions. "The three Laws are the base of our society. Everypony can live in peace because of them. They are what keep you safe and what makes the Community thrive. Obey them at all cost." Antiquity let the message sink in. She wasn't required to explain the importance of the Laws. The colts were expected to to know that already. But she liked to add meaning to her stories, a point at the end of each one. "The Community blossomed under the Council. They went months without a single incident. Everypony obeyed the Laws without question. Instead of working to make sure they did well individually, they all worked together to grow as a community, hence the name. But nearly a year after the start of the first Council, Prince Emerald fell into a darkness." The bell chimed three times. Antiquity cast a quick glare at the clock. "And, class, that is all the time we have for today. Tomorrow, we will continue where we left off and discuss the Corrections." White Leaf awoke with a start. He jumped to his feet, disoriented. He didn't remember falling asleep in the first place. He had no clue how long he'd been unconscious. Judging from the weight of the snow on his back, it had been a while. He shook himself free of the frost. He tested each of his legs. For the most part, he was fine. But his right foreleg, just below his shoulder, was completely numb. He bit at his leg and felt nothing. The longer he waited, the more likely the rest of his body would follow suit. The wind had ceased its torrent while he was out. The flurry of snow had slowed to a sprinkling. For the first time since leaving his home, White Leaf could see. The unicorn glanced around. He was in a long-dead forest. A majority of the short and skinny trees were covered in a layer of ice. The wood wouldn't burn easily, but he could force a fire. Right now, that was his main concern. Get warm before the damage to his body could get any worse. Hopefully, the numbness wasn't permanent. If he lost the use of a leg, there wasn't much he could do. But he'd rather not have to deal with that. The moon was halfway risen. Or perhaps halfway fallen. Either he was just a few hours off from dawn, or a few hours shy of midnight. He hoped for the former. In any case, he followed the moon. It was the only guide he had. Snap. The unicorn whipped his head around, horn glowing a dark blue. He peered through the darkness, but saw nothing. Keeping his guard up, he pressed through the woods. Crack. The noise was far too close for comfort. White Leaf yanked a branch free from one of the meek trees, raising it above his head like a club. Crunch. "Yea—Aaa!" White Leaf saw a flash of color before he was tackled to the ground. Chapter TwoAntipodes The Winterlands White Leaf gasped for air. He lungs burned. He was quite sure that whatever monster that attacked him him had crushed one of his lungs. Or maybe both. And now that its prey was injured, the horrid beast was probably standing over him, licking its lips in anticipation. The unicorn felt something press on his side. Apparently the creature was too impatient to wait for White Leaf to die by tracheobronchitis. White Leaf squeezed his eyes shut tighter. Reluctantly, the unicorn accepted his fate. As least being devoured by a savage beast was a far faster end than freezing. “Sorry ‘bout that,” a sharp, feminine voice said. The weight removed itself from White Leaf’s chest. His broken ribs suddenly stopped hurting, as if they’d never been broken at all. He took a deep breath, ignoring the cold’s sting. He opened his eyes to a tan pegasus. Her mane was a blend of pink and red. Her ruby eyes shone in the moonlight. The pegasus’ Mark was a red leaf, unlike that White Leaf had ever seen. She looked starved. Her ribs poked through her coat. “Didn’t see ya there. Ya kinda blend in.” White Leaf shakily stood up. “Who are you?” She blushed. “Sorry. I’m Ruby. Rubyred of the Firewings. But just Ruby’s good. An’ you? An’, if ya don’t mind me asking, what are ya doin’ all the way out here?” “I’m...” White Leaf paused. For a moment, he considered lying to her. But he had no reason to. If she was a savage cannibal, she was a friendly one. “White Leaf. I’m an Exile from the Community.” Ruby blinked. “Ya mean the college?” “No.” White Leaf rolled his eyes. “It’s... Nevermind. What are you doing out here?” “I’m on patrol,” She said proudly. White Leaf stared at her blankly. “Patrol? Guard duty?” “From what? The snow? If so, you’re not doing a very good job.” Ruby laughed. “You’re funny, White. You can’t tell me you haven’t heard about the griffons.” The unicorn told her he hadn't heard about the griffons. Ruby’s eyes went wide. “Come with me.” White Leaf followed the pegasus for nearly two hours. Suddenly, the dead forest broke. A few hundred yards away from the pair stood a small camp. Pony-sized stakes poked out of the ground around the camp, forming a wall of sorts. Ruby trotted up to the camp, humming cheerfully to herself. White leaf followed quietly. The ponies in the camp were far different than those back home. Ruby seemed to be the healthiest among them. The others appeared to be just as starved. Their coats were covered with mud. A few were missing chunks of fur. They reminded White Leaf of the ponies in Antiquity’s stories. The camp’s residents were mostly pegasi, though a few earth ponies littered the crowds. Well, crowd. There couldn’t have been more than fifty ponies in the camp. “Welcome to Camp Firewing,” the pegasus muttered. White Leaf followed Ruby to a small, wooden structure. The door was flanked by two pegasi, a male and female. Both wore some kind of old armor. Small spikes adorned the helmet and wings. On the chest, a pair of purple pegasus wings had been painted. The door flung open, revealing a dark red pegasus. His angry, golden eyes glanced around before settling on Ruby. “Ruby?” He boomed. “Where have you been young lady?” “I was-” “Out in the forest again? Dammit girl.” The smaller pegasus shrunk. “You know the griffons have been acting up lately. And you think it’s a good idea to wander the woods like some - who is this?” The red pegasus glanced up from the tan one, toward White Leaf. The unicorn took the opportunity to introduce himself. “My name is White Leaf. I-” “You,” the pegasus stepped toward him, thrusting a hoof into White Leaf’s chest, “are simply another burden on this little camp. And unless you intend to tell me that the griffons have magically disappeared or that an army is coming from the west, you are not welcome here.” The pegasus turned toward Ruby. “And you, young lady, are going to stand by these guards until I say otherwise. Understood?” Before the little pegasus could respond, White Leaf took the opportunity to speak. “What are griffons?” “Excuse me?” The large pegasus and two guards questioned. “I’ve never heard of those before. What are griffons?” “Are you trying to be funny?” The red pegasus asked, bringing his face close to White Leaf’s. “No. I’m not.” “A griffon is the nastiest creature you’ll find this far East. They’re half eagle, half lion, full monster. They’ve got razor sharp beaks that can cut through your flesh like a knife through butter. ‘Course, their talons might rip you to shreds first. They’re stronger than any pony I’ve seen. Smart too. We’ve been able to fend them off so far, but we’re all half-starved. Pretty soon, they’ll swoop down and take us all.” White Leaf swallowed. He’d heard plenty of stories about the terrors of the outside. But griffons seemed far more deadly than any rabid dog. “If they’re so dangerous, why don’t you all leave?” “I don’t have time to stand here and answer questions all day. Unless you’re going to be useful, I suggest you get out of here.” White Leaf turned, preparing to leave. But an idea suddenly struck him. “I have food. It’s not much, it won’t even be a meal for your entire camp. But if you tell me what I want to know, then it’s all yours.” “Are you serious?” White Leaf nodded. The red pony grinned. His aggressive glare faded. “Come on in.” The cottage - if the structure even deserved that name - was smaller than White Leaf’s room back at the Community. But somehow, the red pegasus had managed to squeeze in three cots, and a small cooking area in the middle of the room. Along one of the walls, three sets of armor rested. Each was decorated with the same purple wing pattern. The pegasus sat on one side of the fire. White Leaf sat down on the other. The pegasus motioned for White Leaf to begin speaking. “Oh, right. I, um, never caught your name.” “Lord Heatstroke of the Firewings. Son of Windsplitter.” His chest puffed out with pride. “Oh, so you’re-” “Yes, I am Ruby’s father,” Heatstroke cut him off. “I assume you’re not going to pester me about my daughter.” “No, Lord Heatstroke-” “Just Heatstroke will be fine.” “Right, Heatstroke. That was simply curiosity. And if you’ll allow me another,” White Leaf began, his tone becoming slowly more formal. He might have been an Exile, but he was still in the presence of nobility. “Do you honestly allow female member to join the guard?” Heatstroke gave the unicorn a glare. “Are you suggest that they aren’t qualified?” “Well...” “I’ll have you know that my mother was a soldier, and one of the best. If she was still here - Goddesses, let her rest - we wouldn’t be trapped out this far East. We would have already joined the battle up North.” “Battle?” “Have you been living under a rock all your life, or are you just stupid?” White Leaf bit back his anger. “The former.” “I figur- Wait. Are you kidding?” “No, Heatstroke. For all intents and purposes, I have been trapped under a rock my entire life. Now explain to me what battle you’re talking about, why you’re ‘trapped this far East,’” White Leaf did his best to imitate Heatstroke’s voice, “and why you can’t simply return.” Heatstroke glared at White Leaf for a moment. “Very well. We can’t leave this area because the griffons surround us. Believe me, we’ve tried. But the last time we did, they caught us off guard and killed half of our troop. Now we don’t have the force to leave. Our charge is starved, and my guards are halfway there. We’ve sent messengers down South, asking for reinforcements and food, but I doubt they’ve made it. We’re all likely to starve out here. Not that I’ve let anyone know. I keep telling my guards that help will arrive any day. But I know it’s a lie. Unless you’re secretly a powerful mage.” “I’m afraid I’m not. Tell me about the battle.” “We’ve been harassed by Roam for several months now. I don’t know if their prince went mad and decided to try to conquer this Goddessforsaken land, or if his soldiers were simply acting on their own accord. Either way, he made life very difficult for those of us in Bridlehelm. We’re fortunate to have unicorns that can grow food. They stumbled upon some old spell that can produce sunlight. With that gift, we’ve been able to farm despite the cold. We’ve always been on friendly terms with Roam. We’ve traded our excess with them. But I guess that didn’t matter. “One day, about a month back, a small company appeared outside our gates. Though we were suspicious, we were still on friendly terms, so we welcomed them in. That was our biggest mistake. As soon as they were inside, they turned on us. Roam’s soldiers attacked. If not for my mother, we would have lost Bridlehelm that day. She gave her life to protect us from the Roaman soldiers.” Heatstroke paused for a moment. “All in all, the damage was not as bad as it could have been. Only a few lives were lost. But those who died were valued members Bridlehelm. The countess ordered a counter attack immediately. I don’t believe Roam was prepared for that. We’ve pushed past the majority of the city’s defenses. We’re supposed to make the final push next week. But I don’t think we’ll be there for that.” The pair fell silent. White Leaf rubbed his forehead. Within the span of three days, his comfortable little world was shattered. He’d been a guard. Not a high ranking member, but the position itself made him prideful. But then he stumbled upon the Council’s murders. He knew better, but he he reacted how he had been trained. The Council was untouchable, however. And now he was lost in a frozen world, somehow caught in a war. Or, at the very least, about to be some creature’s dinner. “Have you tried sending out a small armed party to Bridlehelm? They’d move slower than any messenger, but they’d be safer out there.” Heatstroke’s eyes brightened. A big, goofy smile spread across his face. “By the Goddesses. You’re brilliant! You must some kind of genius. I wonder why I, a soldier my entire life, and a captain for most of that, never thought of that. Clearly, your superior mental capacity has helped. That is the only explanation. I am so lucky Ruby stumbled across such an intelligent pony as you.” The pegasus’ excited expression fell. “Of course I’ve tried that.” White Leaf’s ears flattened. “You don’t have to be so rude about it. I was only trying to help.” Heatstroke opened his mouth to reply, but the pegasus was cut off by Ruby bursting into the shack. “Father! The griffons are attacking.” Ruby paused, biting her lip. “And the white one is back.” Heatstroke nodded. He walked to the wall holding his armor. Within seconds, he slipped into his suit. Ruby tightened his girth and the straps around his helmet before donning her own set. “You’re a unicorn. Ever used a sword before?” Heatstroke asked. White Leaf nodded. “Once or twice.” “Good enough.” The pegasus kicked open the door, charging out into night. Chapter 3Antipodes The Winterlands White Leaf swung the sword up, catching the griffon’s claw in his sweep. He didn’t have enough force to cut the creature, but at this point the unicorn just wanted to escape with his life. The griffons weren’t even close to what Heatstroke described. They were far worse. The smallest of their kind were slightly larger than the average pony. Their talons could wrap around a pony’s head. Their claws could dig deep into a pony’s skin. The griffons were agile. They’d swoop down to strike and duck out of the way before the ponies could retaliate. To make matters worse, they could be silent when they wished. If Ruby hadn’t been watching his flank, White Leaf would have lost his head a number of times. Even then, he was still lucky. The griffon whapped the blade away and roared. The sound vibrated through White Leaf’s body. He shrunk back from the griffon instinctively. It swept at him. White Leaf rolled to his left, narrowly avoiding the attack. He tugged with his magic, pulling the sword close to him. The griffon leapt toward him, circling around its prey. White Leaf clumsily stabbed at it with his sword, but with no effect. He missed twice and didn’t get a third strike. The griffon tackled White Leaf, sending the unicorn sprawling into one of the tents. It jumped at him again. However, it was intercepted by a dark red blur. The griffon shrieked in pain as the spikes on Heatstroke’s armor tore into it. The warrior didn’t do enough to kill it, but the pain was enough. The griffon took to the air, scarlet pouring from it as it fled. “Unicorn!” Heatstroke shouted, “What’re you still doin’ here? I told you two to escape.” “We were working on it until that interruption.” “You best hurry your flank.” Ruby opened her mouth to protest - for the third time at least - but Heatstroke stopped her. “Miss Rubyred of the Firewings. You are the last of our line unless the Goddesses pull some miracle. Be smart and get yourself out of here.” Heatstroke’s face softened. “You’ll have time to mourn later, Lady Ruby.” With that, Lord Heatrstroke rose, charging ahead to clear a path. Ruby bit her lip, and nodded. White Leaf was surprised. For one of her gender, she was handling her father’s death - or expected death - quite well. She simply accepted the fact and moved on. Sure, she wanted to fight by his side, but she respected her father’s wishes. The griffons had attacked en masse. At least thirty of the creatures surrounded the camp. Alone a griffon was a threat. An entire pride of griffons meant only death, especially when their prey was half starved. Heatstroke knew this. He offered his life to protect his daughter and White Leaf. Of course, the pair had to actually escape in order to survive. And that was proving tougher than they expected. The griffons wanted nopony to escape. Ruby and White Leaf’s attempt to stealthily leave had failed. Still, with the former’s father clearing the way, they’d at least find a way out of the camp. Only luck would help them survive the rest of the forest. The pair made it to the edge of the woods, stopping for a moment to watch the battle unfold. Heatstroke’s crew had done better than White Leaf expected. The pegasi matched the griffons in the air, striking at the beasts’ wings to ground them. There, the few earth ponies left could finish the griffons. But they just didn’t have the strength to keep up the fight. Within half an hour, the camp would be lost. White Leaf and Ruby fled, trying to put as much distance between themselves and the camp as possible. White Leaf sheathed the sword he’d been given and pulled his cloak over his head. Barely away from the camp, and he was already starting to freeze. Ruby led White Leaf deeper into the woods. Luck was with the pair. The griffons either didn’t pursue them, or lost them. Either way, White Leaf considered it a blessing. He followed the pegasus for quite some time, losing track of the hours. Eventually, she stopped outside a small cave. “We should stop here for a while. Get some sleep. Eat. I think we’re far enough away from Griffon territory.” White Leaf nodded. Within half an hour, he was curled up next to the fire, lying opposite of Ruby. The pegasus sat back on her haunches, staring sadly into the flames. She’d taken her silver armor off, gently laying it on the ground. White Leaf had shared what little food he had with her, but she didn’t eat. “You’re hurt,” Ruby stated flatly. White Leaf checked himself over. Sure enough, she was right. Three long gashes ran the length of his right foreleg. Ruby grabbed him, and carefully examined his leg. The fur had come off in some places, revealing his dark skin. Ruby prodded his leg several times before gasping. “Frostbite. You should have told us earlier.” “Why?” “We could have fixed it. The Firewings... We can treat it early on. My family has developed a sort of cure. But I’m afraid it’s too late.” White Leaf nodded. “So? Other than the lack of feeling, it’s not so bad.” Ruby shook her head gently. “Not yet. But we may have to amputate.” “Amputate!?” White Leaf recoiled, holding his leg protectively in front of him. “Not yet. But be careful.” “Understood.” With some coaxing, White Leaf let Ruby tend to his leg. She dressed it with some clean cloth, torn from the unicorn’s cloak. The pegasus was forceful in her motions, nearly injuring the unicorn in her attempts to heal him. As soon as she was done, Ruby scurried to her side of the flames, returning to her mourning. “I’m sorry for your loss,” White Leaf offered. He had never been good at showing sympathy. But he had to try. He owed it to his nurse. Ruby didn’t respond. “I... Did he... Was he...” White Leaf paused, trying to find the right words. “I didn’t know your father for long, but he seemed like a good pony.” Ruby smiled softly. “He was the best. My family’s had influence in Bridlehelm since its founding. When the old count had died, my father had just as much right to rule as the current countess. Many called her a traitor when she took the throne. But my father swore allegiance to her as he had the count.” Ruby paused. Her eyes suddenly welled with tears. “If he had taken the throne, he would have never been sent out here. He wouldn’t have died.” White Leaf bit his lip. His attempts at sympathy seemed to make things worse. But he had to press. Information about the outside world was key to survival. And hopefully he could ease the pain for Ruby. “Tell me more about your father.” Ruby was silent for a moment. “He was a great warrior. His skill was unmatched by any, except, perhaps, his mother. An’ that griffon.” “Which o- oh.” She meant the white griffon, the leader of the pride. It certainly was not the largest of the group. But it made up for size with speed and cunning. White Leaf had only caught a glimpse of it before it faded into the snow and dark. It had struck one of the two guards outside the tent. White Leaf turned away before she died. He was glad he did. When he turned back, most of her was gone. “I have no doubt that it killed him. That creature,” she spat the word, “is to blame for everything. It’s the reason we were trapped for weeks. It’s the reason none of us could escape. It laid the trap. It kept us in place until we were weak.” Ruby fell silent for a moment. “I vow I will kill that beast,” she shouted into the fire. “Or die trying,” she finished quietly. White Leaf looked away, pretending not to notice his companions outburst. Ruby muttered to herself for a brief amount of time. White Leaf let her do so without interruption. The pegasus needed time to accept her father’s death. That she maintained herself for so long was impressive. At some point, her muttering simply became sobbing. White Leaf slid over to her, awkwardly placing a foreleg around her slumped shoulders. Ruby leaned into him sobbing. Sometime later, White Leaf awoke. Ruby was awake, stoking the fire. Her cheeks were still wet from tears, but she appeared to be alright. Noticing the unicorn was awake, Ruby passed him the saddlebags. “You should eat, White. We need to move quickly.” White Leaf nodded. “Of course. What’s the plan?” “Return to Bridlehelm, talk to the countess, find soldiers, an’ hunt down the white griffon.” White Leaf backed away from her a few paces, afraid she may strike him in anger. He nodded and ate. If they could survive until Bridlehelm, he could stay there. He didn’t know much about the place, but it seemed a lot safer than the woods. Maybe he could start a new life in the city. “Help me in my armor,” Ruby demanded as soon as White Leaf finished eating. He obliged the pegasus, tightening the various straps. Then he fit himself into his own gear: first his saddlebags, then the harness for his sword, and finally his cloak. Bracing himself for more of the cold, White Leaf followed Ruby out of the cave. “Alright, alright,” Ruby giggled. The pegasus had a sweet laugh. It was comforting to hear such a warm sound in the cold night. “I suppose it’s only fair. I never had a crush on one of my tutors, but I did have one of my father’s friend. He was ‘bout half the age of my father, though still way too old for me. I was madly in love with him though. Every time he came by, I followed him around like a little dog. Once, I-” “Dog?” White Leaf questioned. “Yeah, I... Wait, do they not have dogs where you’re from?” “No.” Ruby laughed. “They’re four legged, yapping, whiney beasts. They cause more problems than they fix. They’re annoying as anything. An’ I love them to death. Most loyal companion you’ll ever find.” White Leaf nodded. “Okay.” “So, where was I?” Ruby scratched her chin for a moment. Suddenly, she blushed. “Do I really have to tell you?” “I told you about Antiquity. Fair’s fair.” “Fine. So, I once went out to our gardens an’ picked out the prettiest flower I could find. Then I - Do they have flowers where you’re from?” “Yes,” White Leaf said, smiling slightly. “Quit delaying.” “Okay, okay. I went over to Thunderdust, that was his name, an’ gave him the flower. Then I,” Ruby’s blush deepened, her face nearly matching her name, “asked him to marry me.” White Leaf stopped. He bit his tongue, trying to hold back his laughter. But he couldn’t. The blue eyed unicorn dropped to the ground laughing. He rolled in the snow, unable to express his mirth solely through sound. Ruby glared at him for a moment, before joining in. “I felt pretty dumb,” she continued laughing, “but he said yes.” White Leaf’s eyes widened. “He said yes?” “Jokingly of course. But I was so excited. I started planning the wedding right away. I didn’t see him a for a few months though, an’ I eventually lost interest. He still teases me ‘bout it though.” White Leaf chuckled. The two traveled in silence for a few minutes. “Do you have one?” Ruby suddenly asked. “Have one what?” “A wife. Or mate. Somepony special.” “No, I don’t.” White Leaf answered. “Why not?” “I... In my, uh, city, we don’t really have special someponies. We just reproduce with our assigned mate when the time calls for it.” Ruby’s eyes widened. “Oh,” she said softly. After a pause, she ended, “ew.” White Leaf nodded. “I never, um, had to. I was too young last season. And we do still have marriages in some cases. Occasionally, if one gets attached, the Council will allow them to bond together. It’s one of the few ways that females in our society can gain positions of meaning.” Ruby stopped. “What does that mean?” “What does what mean?” “Position of meaning.” “Oh,” White Leaf chewed his lip, trying to come up with a non-offensive way to explain. “It’s just that, we, um, have a form of hierarchy that tends to place our wea- I mean our female counterparts on the lower end. You know what,” White Leaf added quickly, “It’s stupid and it doesn’t apply here.” “You’re right,” Ruby agreed. “It is stupid.” As soon as she finished, the forest broke. The pair stood at the edge of a wide tundra. A light snow covered the ground. For the first time since the camp, White Leaf could clearly see the full moon. Off in the distance stood the tall, metallic buildings of some ancient city. But the pair didn’t get to admire the scenery for long. They were quickly surrounded by a group of ponies, clad in purple and yellow armor. They were mostly earth ponies, though a couple pegasi and a single unicorn were mixed in with the group. Lances and spears were attached to the sides of the soldiers. They circled around White Leaf and Ruby, blocking escape. White Leaf’s horn glew slightly as the unicorn unsheathed his blade. But Ruby placed a hoof on him gently, telling him to lower the weapon. “Who are they?” He whispered. “Soldiers of Roam.”
PrologueAntipodes The Winterlands "The Court finds you guilty of High Crimes against the Council. You are hereby Exiled from the Community." The white colt gulped. He hadn't expected this. Yes, he knew the risks of going against the Council. Yes, he fully expected he would be caught. Yes, he knew that, once he was caught, he would be found guilty of whatever crimes they could find. But exile? No, he was not prepared for that. Judging from the sudden outcry in the courtroom, neither was anyone else. Society revolved around twelve loosely defined rules: the Three Laws and the Corrections. If a pony broke any of the Corrections, he was imprisoned, placed in the stocks for any number of days. If a pony broke any of the Laws, he was sentenced to death. There was no debate. The Community viewed those as the only merciful punishments. They were swift and painless. In the two hundred years since its founding, the Community only sentenced three ponies to exile. The first was one of the Community's founding members. He was the one who convinced others to follow and established the Three Laws. He wanted a society where everyone was bound to the same rules. Except for him, of course. The founding Council member believed he was above the Laws. When the others found out his blatant disrespect for the Community, they set out to have him killed. But nopony had the heart to deliver the sentence. Instead, they exiled him, believing it the better option. After they found his body, they realized their mistake. Death was more merciful. On the day he was buried, the first Correction was added. You shall act an equal. The second pony sentenced to exile was, perhaps, the only one to truly deserve it. She, like most mares in the Community, was a breeder. She was raised to sustain the Community's population. But she cared little for the foals she produced. As the years went on, and as she slipped into madness, she turned to a darkness beyond words. She broke the first two Laws, and, by extension, the third. When they caught her, on her third dead foal, the Court gave her the punishment she deserved. Death was far too kind. They made no attempt to look for her body. After she left the Community, the fifth Correction was added. You shall be aware of madness. The third pony to be exiled deserved nothing but an official pardon. She was merely a child. She had done nothing wrong, except make enemies. She'd gotten on the wrong side of a few influential ponies. They accused her of crimes beyond her abilities, crimes that never occurred at all. She was clearly innocent, but she had no support in the Court. The judge tried to reason with the crowd. In that time, however, he was forced to listen to the jury. They overruled his decision. The filly was exiled. Her body was never found. A few days after she was forced to leave, the seventh Correction was added. You shall obey the Court and its decisions. The judge slammed his hoof against the mahogany desk. Immediately, the room fell silent. Everypony turned his attention back to the floor, awaiting for the final statement. "Do you accept and understand this sentence?" That line was simply a formality. Even if the unicorn said no, he would still receive the same sentence. At best, he could delay his punishment for another twenty minutes while the Court reread his crimes and repeated his sentence. At worst, he would lose what little power he had left. He would go from martyrdom, hopefully, to cowardice. The white stallion glared up at the judge. If he was going to suffer outside the Community, he would not let anypony forget his face. His sentence was passed, but he would make sure that the Community heard his message. He gave up everything for this moment. He cleared his throat to speak. "I willingly accept." His voice was stolid. "I would rather suffer in the ice than live under traitors." The pony turned. He trained his dark-blue eyes on the rest of the courtroom. The others watched him, completely silent. "The Council has betrayed you all. They abused the Laws for personal gain. They—" The colt didn't get the chance to finish. He felt something hard hit his head, and the world faded to black. Suddenly, he was very cold. And wet. The unicorn opened his eyes in surprise. he jumped to his feet, orientating himself. He was in a small chamber, no larger than his bedroom. The walls lacked the familiar smooth carving of those within the Community's confines. The floor was rough, threatening to cut through his hooves. He was now outside the Community. At least they hadn't thrown him into the snow while he was out. Thank the Godesses for small favors. A dark brown stallion sat in front of him. The earth pony dropped the bucket and passed a towel to the white unicorn. "Dry yourself off. You don't want to go out with a wet mane." The two stood in silence while the unicorn patted himself down. He could already feel the crystals forming on his sky blue mane. He shook the last couple drops away from his forelock and passed the towel back to the earth pony. The stallion took it, keeping his gaze locked on the younger colt. With any other pony, the unicorn would return the stare. But he couldn't. He just stared at the other pony's hooves. "You are the dumbest pony I've ever met." The white unicorn chewed his lip. "And I've met a lot of dumb ponies. Why? What would possess you to go and do that?" The white pony shook his head, his pale mane flopping back and forth. He suddenly felt years younger. He couldn't face the lecture with any courage. He could only sit and listen. The brown stallion sighed. "I don't know if what they said was true, and I don't care. You brought this all on yourself. You should have just kept your mouth shut, let someone else take the fall. You could have lived your life in peace. You could have just moved on. Instead, you go and get yourself exiled. Good job. I'm real proud of you." "I'm sorry, Father." The white unicorn glanced up at the imposing stallion, tears forming in his eyes. He didn't care that he was an adult. He just wanted to apologize and have everything go back to normal. The brown pony shook his head. He turned away, opening a metal door. The door that lead back to the warmth of society. "Don't forget your bags." The stallion stepped through the door, pulling is closed. A moment later, the two locks clicked. The unicorn stared at the metal door. It was official. The Community was closed to him. His home, the only life he'd ever known, cast him out. And it was all his fault. He tried to fight against the Council. He saw their blatant neglect for the Laws and he tried to correct them. He tried to inform others. He tried to make everypony else see the abuse. He tried. And he failed. He became the Council's scapegoat. The Council had to admit that someone broke the Laws. The unicorn exposed three murders, one for each Council member. He was sure that there were countless others. But he didn’t plan anything through. He panicked. And he sought justice. The Council, for obvious reasons, was well respected. They lead by example. Each member, supposedly, obeyed the rules perfectly. They took care of those under their care, making sure everyone was alright. Anypony who suggested something different was ludicrous. Possibly insane. The Council could not deny the death of three young mares. But they could easily pass the blame. Featherweight, the eldest member, immediately reversed the blame. The others quickly followed his example. They claimed the white stallion had set the Council up. The unicorn was attempting to overthrow the Council and force the Community into anarchy. He'd murdered three innocent ponies and tried to pin the blame on Council members. He was attempting to incite riots. Perhaps start a rebellion. Featherweight, Dusk, and Silversteed had made one mistake, though. They let him talk, and then they silenced him. They claimed he broke the second Law, but gave him a punishment considered far too severe. A majority of the ponies would think nothing of it. They'd assume the white colt was simply insane. Someone would put two and two together, though. Somepony would realize he was not crazy. That somepony would pick up where the unicorn left off. Hopefully, that pony wouldn't fail. The unicorn sighed, turning toward the saddlebags. There was no use to pining after his home. He couldn't just unlock the door and walk back in. His work was done. Whatever he had started would run its course without him. He might as well move on. The bags were generic, not that he expected anything more. Even if his father was the Court's executioner, he didn't expect any special treatment. As far as anypony was concerned, the white colt was a traitor. He checked the saddlebags to see what supplies he'd been allowed. He stared at them confused. He hadn't expected so much. In all honesty, he hadn't expected anything. The bags held three days supply of food, a heavy cloak, and a basic fire starting kit. With these materials, the unicorn could easily survive a couple days before he froze to death. If he was lucky, he wouldn't live past one. The white pony wrapped the cloak around himself, mentally preparing for his journey. For a moment, he debated staying outside the Community until he starved. With the food he was given, he could survive a week before he starved. In that time, they'd send out a party to look for his body. He could lie in wait, and take the ponies by surprise. He could force his way back into the Community. But to what purpose? The unicorn was lucky if they wouldn't all think he was insane. Starving himself for the chance of reentry wouldn't help his case. He kicked the wooden door open. Immediately, he was greeted with a gust of icy air. Even through the heavy cloak, he could feel the sting of the frost. The unicorn gave one last, longing stare at the locked metal door. Finally, after another farewell, he decided he could not delay any longer. White Leaf stepped out into the cold.
Chapter OneAntipodes The Winterlands The wind bit at White Leaf's face. His cheeks stung as the cold continued to toy with him. He winced at each strike. But the unicorn cherished the feeling. It let him know he was alive. For the time, that was enough. The pale pony stuck a hoof out experimentally. It, and most of his leg, disappeared into the swirling white. If he couldn't feel the occasional stab of ice, he'd have sworn his leg was gone entirely. Everything beyond his nose was pure white. Essentially, he was blind. The pony pressed on, hoping that anything he bumped into would either be dead or dying. White Leaf had heard plenty of stories about the creatures that stalk the outside world. Monsters lurked in the shadows. Savage ponies hunted the innocent. Titans, beasts of terrific sizes, paraded through the land. All manner of evils awaited the chance to kill him. Unfortunately for everyone, he would probably freeze to death before something could eat him.The decent thing to do would be to curl up and wait. When the search party came looking for his body, they wouldn't have to go far. But nopony expected him to be decent. He was an exile. It was time he acted like one. Go West. In school, they'd always told him to go West. If he should ever be trapped outside the Community, he should just head West. Unfortunately, they never taught him how to find West—or North or any other direction—much less, how to do it when he was blind. White Leaf decided he should just go straight until he ran into something. Then he would figure out a plan from there. For now, he had two goals. One, keep moving. If he had to die, he'd rather not freeze. As long as he continued heading somewhere, he would be safe. Well, safer. Two, find shelter. White Leaf really didn't care what he found, as long as it would protect him from the cold. Then he could start a fire, eat, and sleep. Sleep for as long as he wanted. Exhausted, the unicorn pressed on. "Alright class," Antiquity started. White Leaf perked up. He hadn't noticed her walk in. Truth be told, the unicorn cared little for school. He found it dull and, ultimately, pointless. A pony's role in society was determined by his Mark and by the Council. As long as he could read and write, he was set. That said, White Leaf treasured Antiquity's lessons. The history teacher was the Community's only female instructor, but that didn't hold her back. She completely made up for her shortcomings with her stories. The blue mare knew the Community's entire history. She crafted each lesson around some story. She believed ponies learned best when they had some way to associate with it. "It's time we discussed the founding of the Community and the three Laws." Antiquity smiled. The room was completely silent. Every colt turned to her with rapt attention. The moment the Laws were mentioned, things got serious. "Nearly two hundred years ago, three great heroes left the safety of Trotston for the freedom of a new land. They were Sir Stolid the Unwavering, Sir Swift the Deft, and Emerald. An earth pony, a pegasus and a unicorn. Sir Stolid was renown for his virtue and his strength. He acted as the captain of Trotston's guard. Sir Stolid fought creatures—monsters twice his size with ease. He saved the city from countless threats. But as time went on, and as Sir Stolid's strength began to wane, he spent more time within the city. He soon began to notice something unnerving. "Sir Swift was Sir Stolid's replacement. Whereas the latter relied on strength, the former relied on his wits. They had fought together several times. They were close, like father and son. As the duties of his position began to lessen, Sir Swift was soon informed of a darkness within Trotston. "Emerald was not a soldier. But he was a pony of great importance. Emerald was one of Trotston's two princes. He was compassionate, often going out of his way to please his subjects. Emerald spent as much time with the citizens of Trotston as he could. Like Sir Stolid and Sir Swift, Prince Emerald also discovered a darkness. "Trotston was ruled by one pony, Emerald's brother, Sapphire. Prince Sapphire was not a benevolent pony. He led with an iron hoof, taking much and giving little. He sheltered his brother and his soldiers from the truth. But he couldn't hide it forever. The three ponies discovered his neglect for his subjects. "The heroes revealed the truth to those considered elite, those with power. Prince Sapphire demanded they remain silent. He was afraid he would lose his crown. Emerald attempted to work out a peaceful solution. As long as the ruling prince would forfeit his throne, Prince Emerald would never mention his cruelty. Sapphire was far too fond of his power. He refused to give up the crown and turned to fight his brother. "Sir Stolid and Sir Swift wished to meet the challenge. They decided they would take Trotston by force. But Emerald was wise. Despite his neglect, Sapphire had far too many loyal followers. Fighting would cost them everything. He convinced the others to flee. They gathered all the ponies they could and left Trotston. "They followed the moon until they could walk no more. They happened upon a cave. The three heroes carefully searched it. They found a shelter large enough for forty times their force. The ponies decided they would settle there for the night." Antiquity paused. The room was eerily silent, as if everypony was too afraid to even breathe until she was done. When she felt she had suffered the quiet long enough, Antiquity resumed. Her soft, rhythmic voice fill the room again. "One night turned into one week, and then into a month. The ponies worked to make the cave more habitable. Within a year, the Community was founded. It was without leadership. Everypony simply focused on their own selves. Finally, the three heroes decided to form the Council. Under the guidance of a government, the Community could truly turn into a thriving society. "For weeks, the ponies debated the rules governing their society. They all understood the necessity of laws but were unable to devise a fair system. Unicorns and pegasi would need restrictions that didn't apply to earth ponies. No matter how they worked it, one group would suffer more than another. "Finally, Emerald found a solution. The Council was run by three ponies, one of each race. The first Council consisted of Sir Stolid, Sir Swift, and Prince Emerald. They would each create one law that applied to the ponies equally. If necessary, they could modify their laws later." Antiquity paused to write something on the blackboard. "Sir Stolid was a proud soldier. But as he aged, he became less concerned with fighting and more concerned with living. He created the first Law." Antiquity wrote You shall not kill next to Sir Stolid's name. "Sir Swift was the youngest of the Council members, but he was concerned for the future. He wished to see the Community grow. With a small population, any mistakes could hurt their chances of survival. The alternative interpretation to his law didn't come about until after his death." Anitiquity wrote You shall further society. Unlike her voice, Antiquity's writing was anything but pleasant. It was barely readable. "Prince Emerald had a plan for the future as well. He knew they would need to make adjustments, Corrections, at some point. Three ponies could not plan for an eternity. He created the most important Law." You shall obey the Council. Antiquity gave everypony a moment to copy everything she'd written. By this time, the colts were expected to know the Laws by heart. In a few years, after they all had gotten their Marks, they would be assigned tasks and treated as adults. That meant they'd be tried as adults. No pardons, no exceptions. "The three Laws are the base of our society. Everypony can live in peace because of them. They are what keep you safe and what makes the Community thrive. Obey them at all cost." Antiquity let the message sink in. She wasn't required to explain the importance of the Laws. The colts were expected to to know that already. But she liked to add meaning to her stories, a point at the end of each one. "The Community blossomed under the Council. They went months without a single incident. Everypony obeyed the Laws without question. Instead of working to make sure they did well individually, they all worked together to grow as a community, hence the name. But nearly a year after the start of the first Council, Prince Emerald fell into a darkness." The bell chimed three times. Antiquity cast a quick glare at the clock. "And, class, that is all the time we have for today. Tomorrow, we will continue where we left off and discuss the Corrections." White Leaf awoke with a start. He jumped to his feet, disoriented. He didn't remember falling asleep in the first place. He had no clue how long he'd been unconscious. Judging from the weight of the snow on his back, it had been a while. He shook himself free of the frost. He tested each of his legs. For the most part, he was fine. But his right foreleg, just below his shoulder, was completely numb. He bit at his leg and felt nothing. The longer he waited, the more likely the rest of his body would follow suit. The wind had ceased its torrent while he was out. The flurry of snow had slowed to a sprinkling. For the first time since leaving his home, White Leaf could see. The unicorn glanced around. He was in a long-dead forest. A majority of the short and skinny trees were covered in a layer of ice. The wood wouldn't burn easily, but he could force a fire. Right now, that was his main concern. Get warm before the damage to his body could get any worse. Hopefully, the numbness wasn't permanent. If he lost the use of a leg, there wasn't much he could do. But he'd rather not have to deal with that. The moon was halfway risen. Or perhaps halfway fallen. Either he was just a few hours off from dawn, or a few hours shy of midnight. He hoped for the former. In any case, he followed the moon. It was the only guide he had. Snap. The unicorn whipped his head around, horn glowing a dark blue. He peered through the darkness, but saw nothing. Keeping his guard up, he pressed through the woods. Crack. The noise was far too close for comfort. White Leaf yanked a branch free from one of the meek trees, raising it above his head like a club. Crunch. "Yea—Aaa!" White Leaf saw a flash of color before he was tackled to the ground.
Chapter TwoAntipodes The Winterlands White Leaf gasped for air. He lungs burned. He was quite sure that whatever monster that attacked him him had crushed one of his lungs. Or maybe both. And now that its prey was injured, the horrid beast was probably standing over him, licking its lips in anticipation. The unicorn felt something press on his side. Apparently the creature was too impatient to wait for White Leaf to die by tracheobronchitis. White Leaf squeezed his eyes shut tighter. Reluctantly, the unicorn accepted his fate. As least being devoured by a savage beast was a far faster end than freezing. “Sorry ‘bout that,” a sharp, feminine voice said. The weight removed itself from White Leaf’s chest. His broken ribs suddenly stopped hurting, as if they’d never been broken at all. He took a deep breath, ignoring the cold’s sting. He opened his eyes to a tan pegasus. Her mane was a blend of pink and red. Her ruby eyes shone in the moonlight. The pegasus’ Mark was a red leaf, unlike that White Leaf had ever seen. She looked starved. Her ribs poked through her coat. “Didn’t see ya there. Ya kinda blend in.” White Leaf shakily stood up. “Who are you?” She blushed. “Sorry. I’m Ruby. Rubyred of the Firewings. But just Ruby’s good. An’ you? An’, if ya don’t mind me asking, what are ya doin’ all the way out here?” “I’m...” White Leaf paused. For a moment, he considered lying to her. But he had no reason to. If she was a savage cannibal, she was a friendly one. “White Leaf. I’m an Exile from the Community.” Ruby blinked. “Ya mean the college?” “No.” White Leaf rolled his eyes. “It’s... Nevermind. What are you doing out here?” “I’m on patrol,” She said proudly. White Leaf stared at her blankly. “Patrol? Guard duty?” “From what? The snow? If so, you’re not doing a very good job.” Ruby laughed. “You’re funny, White. You can’t tell me you haven’t heard about the griffons.” The unicorn told her he hadn't heard about the griffons. Ruby’s eyes went wide. “Come with me.” White Leaf followed the pegasus for nearly two hours. Suddenly, the dead forest broke. A few hundred yards away from the pair stood a small camp. Pony-sized stakes poked out of the ground around the camp, forming a wall of sorts. Ruby trotted up to the camp, humming cheerfully to herself. White leaf followed quietly. The ponies in the camp were far different than those back home. Ruby seemed to be the healthiest among them. The others appeared to be just as starved. Their coats were covered with mud. A few were missing chunks of fur. They reminded White Leaf of the ponies in Antiquity’s stories. The camp’s residents were mostly pegasi, though a few earth ponies littered the crowds. Well, crowd. There couldn’t have been more than fifty ponies in the camp. “Welcome to Camp Firewing,” the pegasus muttered. White Leaf followed Ruby to a small, wooden structure. The door was flanked by two pegasi, a male and female. Both wore some kind of old armor. Small spikes adorned the helmet and wings. On the chest, a pair of purple pegasus wings had been painted. The door flung open, revealing a dark red pegasus. His angry, golden eyes glanced around before settling on Ruby. “Ruby?” He boomed. “Where have you been young lady?” “I was-” “Out in the forest again? Dammit girl.” The smaller pegasus shrunk. “You know the griffons have been acting up lately. And you think it’s a good idea to wander the woods like some - who is this?” The red pegasus glanced up from the tan one, toward White Leaf. The unicorn took the opportunity to introduce himself. “My name is White Leaf. I-” “You,” the pegasus stepped toward him, thrusting a hoof into White Leaf’s chest, “are simply another burden on this little camp. And unless you intend to tell me that the griffons have magically disappeared or that an army is coming from the west, you are not welcome here.” The pegasus turned toward Ruby. “And you, young lady, are going to stand by these guards until I say otherwise. Understood?” Before the little pegasus could respond, White Leaf took the opportunity to speak. “What are griffons?” “Excuse me?” The large pegasus and two guards questioned. “I’ve never heard of those before. What are griffons?” “Are you trying to be funny?” The red pegasus asked, bringing his face close to White Leaf’s. “No. I’m not.” “A griffon is the nastiest creature you’ll find this far East. They’re half eagle, half lion, full monster. They’ve got razor sharp beaks that can cut through your flesh like a knife through butter. ‘Course, their talons might rip you to shreds first. They’re stronger than any pony I’ve seen. Smart too. We’ve been able to fend them off so far, but we’re all half-starved. Pretty soon, they’ll swoop down and take us all.” White Leaf swallowed. He’d heard plenty of stories about the terrors of the outside. But griffons seemed far more deadly than any rabid dog. “If they’re so dangerous, why don’t you all leave?” “I don’t have time to stand here and answer questions all day. Unless you’re going to be useful, I suggest you get out of here.” White Leaf turned, preparing to leave. But an idea suddenly struck him. “I have food. It’s not much, it won’t even be a meal for your entire camp. But if you tell me what I want to know, then it’s all yours.” “Are you serious?” White Leaf nodded. The red pony grinned. His aggressive glare faded. “Come on in.” The cottage - if the structure even deserved that name - was smaller than White Leaf’s room back at the Community. But somehow, the red pegasus had managed to squeeze in three cots, and a small cooking area in the middle of the room. Along one of the walls, three sets of armor rested. Each was decorated with the same purple wing pattern. The pegasus sat on one side of the fire. White Leaf sat down on the other. The pegasus motioned for White Leaf to begin speaking. “Oh, right. I, um, never caught your name.” “Lord Heatstroke of the Firewings. Son of Windsplitter.” His chest puffed out with pride. “Oh, so you’re-” “Yes, I am Ruby’s father,” Heatstroke cut him off. “I assume you’re not going to pester me about my daughter.” “No, Lord Heatstroke-” “Just Heatstroke will be fine.” “Right, Heatstroke. That was simply curiosity. And if you’ll allow me another,” White Leaf began, his tone becoming slowly more formal. He might have been an Exile, but he was still in the presence of nobility. “Do you honestly allow female member to join the guard?” Heatstroke gave the unicorn a glare. “Are you suggest that they aren’t qualified?” “Well...” “I’ll have you know that my mother was a soldier, and one of the best. If she was still here - Goddesses, let her rest - we wouldn’t be trapped out this far East. We would have already joined the battle up North.” “Battle?” “Have you been living under a rock all your life, or are you just stupid?” White Leaf bit back his anger. “The former.” “I figur- Wait. Are you kidding?” “No, Heatstroke. For all intents and purposes, I have been trapped under a rock my entire life. Now explain to me what battle you’re talking about, why you’re ‘trapped this far East,’” White Leaf did his best to imitate Heatstroke’s voice, “and why you can’t simply return.” Heatstroke glared at White Leaf for a moment. “Very well. We can’t leave this area because the griffons surround us. Believe me, we’ve tried. But the last time we did, they caught us off guard and killed half of our troop. Now we don’t have the force to leave. Our charge is starved, and my guards are halfway there. We’ve sent messengers down South, asking for reinforcements and food, but I doubt they’ve made it. We’re all likely to starve out here. Not that I’ve let anyone know. I keep telling my guards that help will arrive any day. But I know it’s a lie. Unless you’re secretly a powerful mage.” “I’m afraid I’m not. Tell me about the battle.” “We’ve been harassed by Roam for several months now. I don’t know if their prince went mad and decided to try to conquer this Goddessforsaken land, or if his soldiers were simply acting on their own accord. Either way, he made life very difficult for those of us in Bridlehelm. We’re fortunate to have unicorns that can grow food. They stumbled upon some old spell that can produce sunlight. With that gift, we’ve been able to farm despite the cold. We’ve always been on friendly terms with Roam. We’ve traded our excess with them. But I guess that didn’t matter. “One day, about a month back, a small company appeared outside our gates. Though we were suspicious, we were still on friendly terms, so we welcomed them in. That was our biggest mistake. As soon as they were inside, they turned on us. Roam’s soldiers attacked. If not for my mother, we would have lost Bridlehelm that day. She gave her life to protect us from the Roaman soldiers.” Heatstroke paused for a moment. “All in all, the damage was not as bad as it could have been. Only a few lives were lost. But those who died were valued members Bridlehelm. The countess ordered a counter attack immediately. I don’t believe Roam was prepared for that. We’ve pushed past the majority of the city’s defenses. We’re supposed to make the final push next week. But I don’t think we’ll be there for that.” The pair fell silent. White Leaf rubbed his forehead. Within the span of three days, his comfortable little world was shattered. He’d been a guard. Not a high ranking member, but the position itself made him prideful. But then he stumbled upon the Council’s murders. He knew better, but he he reacted how he had been trained. The Council was untouchable, however. And now he was lost in a frozen world, somehow caught in a war. Or, at the very least, about to be some creature’s dinner. “Have you tried sending out a small armed party to Bridlehelm? They’d move slower than any messenger, but they’d be safer out there.” Heatstroke’s eyes brightened. A big, goofy smile spread across his face. “By the Goddesses. You’re brilliant! You must some kind of genius. I wonder why I, a soldier my entire life, and a captain for most of that, never thought of that. Clearly, your superior mental capacity has helped. That is the only explanation. I am so lucky Ruby stumbled across such an intelligent pony as you.” The pegasus’ excited expression fell. “Of course I’ve tried that.” White Leaf’s ears flattened. “You don’t have to be so rude about it. I was only trying to help.” Heatstroke opened his mouth to reply, but the pegasus was cut off by Ruby bursting into the shack. “Father! The griffons are attacking.” Ruby paused, biting her lip. “And the white one is back.” Heatstroke nodded. He walked to the wall holding his armor. Within seconds, he slipped into his suit. Ruby tightened his girth and the straps around his helmet before donning her own set. “You’re a unicorn. Ever used a sword before?” Heatstroke asked. White Leaf nodded. “Once or twice.” “Good enough.” The pegasus kicked open the door, charging out into night.
Chapter 3Antipodes The Winterlands White Leaf swung the sword up, catching the griffon’s claw in his sweep. He didn’t have enough force to cut the creature, but at this point the unicorn just wanted to escape with his life. The griffons weren’t even close to what Heatstroke described. They were far worse. The smallest of their kind were slightly larger than the average pony. Their talons could wrap around a pony’s head. Their claws could dig deep into a pony’s skin. The griffons were agile. They’d swoop down to strike and duck out of the way before the ponies could retaliate. To make matters worse, they could be silent when they wished. If Ruby hadn’t been watching his flank, White Leaf would have lost his head a number of times. Even then, he was still lucky. The griffon whapped the blade away and roared. The sound vibrated through White Leaf’s body. He shrunk back from the griffon instinctively. It swept at him. White Leaf rolled to his left, narrowly avoiding the attack. He tugged with his magic, pulling the sword close to him. The griffon leapt toward him, circling around its prey. White Leaf clumsily stabbed at it with his sword, but with no effect. He missed twice and didn’t get a third strike. The griffon tackled White Leaf, sending the unicorn sprawling into one of the tents. It jumped at him again. However, it was intercepted by a dark red blur. The griffon shrieked in pain as the spikes on Heatstroke’s armor tore into it. The warrior didn’t do enough to kill it, but the pain was enough. The griffon took to the air, scarlet pouring from it as it fled. “Unicorn!” Heatstroke shouted, “What’re you still doin’ here? I told you two to escape.” “We were working on it until that interruption.” “You best hurry your flank.” Ruby opened her mouth to protest - for the third time at least - but Heatstroke stopped her. “Miss Rubyred of the Firewings. You are the last of our line unless the Goddesses pull some miracle. Be smart and get yourself out of here.” Heatstroke’s face softened. “You’ll have time to mourn later, Lady Ruby.” With that, Lord Heatrstroke rose, charging ahead to clear a path. Ruby bit her lip, and nodded. White Leaf was surprised. For one of her gender, she was handling her father’s death - or expected death - quite well. She simply accepted the fact and moved on. Sure, she wanted to fight by his side, but she respected her father’s wishes. The griffons had attacked en masse. At least thirty of the creatures surrounded the camp. Alone a griffon was a threat. An entire pride of griffons meant only death, especially when their prey was half starved. Heatstroke knew this. He offered his life to protect his daughter and White Leaf. Of course, the pair had to actually escape in order to survive. And that was proving tougher than they expected. The griffons wanted nopony to escape. Ruby and White Leaf’s attempt to stealthily leave had failed. Still, with the former’s father clearing the way, they’d at least find a way out of the camp. Only luck would help them survive the rest of the forest. The pair made it to the edge of the woods, stopping for a moment to watch the battle unfold. Heatstroke’s crew had done better than White Leaf expected. The pegasi matched the griffons in the air, striking at the beasts’ wings to ground them. There, the few earth ponies left could finish the griffons. But they just didn’t have the strength to keep up the fight. Within half an hour, the camp would be lost. White Leaf and Ruby fled, trying to put as much distance between themselves and the camp as possible. White Leaf sheathed the sword he’d been given and pulled his cloak over his head. Barely away from the camp, and he was already starting to freeze. Ruby led White Leaf deeper into the woods. Luck was with the pair. The griffons either didn’t pursue them, or lost them. Either way, White Leaf considered it a blessing. He followed the pegasus for quite some time, losing track of the hours. Eventually, she stopped outside a small cave. “We should stop here for a while. Get some sleep. Eat. I think we’re far enough away from Griffon territory.” White Leaf nodded. Within half an hour, he was curled up next to the fire, lying opposite of Ruby. The pegasus sat back on her haunches, staring sadly into the flames. She’d taken her silver armor off, gently laying it on the ground. White Leaf had shared what little food he had with her, but she didn’t eat. “You’re hurt,” Ruby stated flatly. White Leaf checked himself over. Sure enough, she was right. Three long gashes ran the length of his right foreleg. Ruby grabbed him, and carefully examined his leg. The fur had come off in some places, revealing his dark skin. Ruby prodded his leg several times before gasping. “Frostbite. You should have told us earlier.” “Why?” “We could have fixed it. The Firewings... We can treat it early on. My family has developed a sort of cure. But I’m afraid it’s too late.” White Leaf nodded. “So? Other than the lack of feeling, it’s not so bad.” Ruby shook her head gently. “Not yet. But we may have to amputate.” “Amputate!?” White Leaf recoiled, holding his leg protectively in front of him. “Not yet. But be careful.” “Understood.” With some coaxing, White Leaf let Ruby tend to his leg. She dressed it with some clean cloth, torn from the unicorn’s cloak. The pegasus was forceful in her motions, nearly injuring the unicorn in her attempts to heal him. As soon as she was done, Ruby scurried to her side of the flames, returning to her mourning. “I’m sorry for your loss,” White Leaf offered. He had never been good at showing sympathy. But he had to try. He owed it to his nurse. Ruby didn’t respond. “I... Did he... Was he...” White Leaf paused, trying to find the right words. “I didn’t know your father for long, but he seemed like a good pony.” Ruby smiled softly. “He was the best. My family’s had influence in Bridlehelm since its founding. When the old count had died, my father had just as much right to rule as the current countess. Many called her a traitor when she took the throne. But my father swore allegiance to her as he had the count.” Ruby paused. Her eyes suddenly welled with tears. “If he had taken the throne, he would have never been sent out here. He wouldn’t have died.” White Leaf bit his lip. His attempts at sympathy seemed to make things worse. But he had to press. Information about the outside world was key to survival. And hopefully he could ease the pain for Ruby. “Tell me more about your father.” Ruby was silent for a moment. “He was a great warrior. His skill was unmatched by any, except, perhaps, his mother. An’ that griffon.” “Which o- oh.” She meant the white griffon, the leader of the pride. It certainly was not the largest of the group. But it made up for size with speed and cunning. White Leaf had only caught a glimpse of it before it faded into the snow and dark. It had struck one of the two guards outside the tent. White Leaf turned away before she died. He was glad he did. When he turned back, most of her was gone. “I have no doubt that it killed him. That creature,” she spat the word, “is to blame for everything. It’s the reason we were trapped for weeks. It’s the reason none of us could escape. It laid the trap. It kept us in place until we were weak.” Ruby fell silent for a moment. “I vow I will kill that beast,” she shouted into the fire. “Or die trying,” she finished quietly. White Leaf looked away, pretending not to notice his companions outburst. Ruby muttered to herself for a brief amount of time. White Leaf let her do so without interruption. The pegasus needed time to accept her father’s death. That she maintained herself for so long was impressive. At some point, her muttering simply became sobbing. White Leaf slid over to her, awkwardly placing a foreleg around her slumped shoulders. Ruby leaned into him sobbing. Sometime later, White Leaf awoke. Ruby was awake, stoking the fire. Her cheeks were still wet from tears, but she appeared to be alright. Noticing the unicorn was awake, Ruby passed him the saddlebags. “You should eat, White. We need to move quickly.” White Leaf nodded. “Of course. What’s the plan?” “Return to Bridlehelm, talk to the countess, find soldiers, an’ hunt down the white griffon.” White Leaf backed away from her a few paces, afraid she may strike him in anger. He nodded and ate. If they could survive until Bridlehelm, he could stay there. He didn’t know much about the place, but it seemed a lot safer than the woods. Maybe he could start a new life in the city. “Help me in my armor,” Ruby demanded as soon as White Leaf finished eating. He obliged the pegasus, tightening the various straps. Then he fit himself into his own gear: first his saddlebags, then the harness for his sword, and finally his cloak. Bracing himself for more of the cold, White Leaf followed Ruby out of the cave. “Alright, alright,” Ruby giggled. The pegasus had a sweet laugh. It was comforting to hear such a warm sound in the cold night. “I suppose it’s only fair. I never had a crush on one of my tutors, but I did have one of my father’s friend. He was ‘bout half the age of my father, though still way too old for me. I was madly in love with him though. Every time he came by, I followed him around like a little dog. Once, I-” “Dog?” White Leaf questioned. “Yeah, I... Wait, do they not have dogs where you’re from?” “No.” Ruby laughed. “They’re four legged, yapping, whiney beasts. They cause more problems than they fix. They’re annoying as anything. An’ I love them to death. Most loyal companion you’ll ever find.” White Leaf nodded. “Okay.” “So, where was I?” Ruby scratched her chin for a moment. Suddenly, she blushed. “Do I really have to tell you?” “I told you about Antiquity. Fair’s fair.” “Fine. So, I once went out to our gardens an’ picked out the prettiest flower I could find. Then I - Do they have flowers where you’re from?” “Yes,” White Leaf said, smiling slightly. “Quit delaying.” “Okay, okay. I went over to Thunderdust, that was his name, an’ gave him the flower. Then I,” Ruby’s blush deepened, her face nearly matching her name, “asked him to marry me.” White Leaf stopped. He bit his tongue, trying to hold back his laughter. But he couldn’t. The blue eyed unicorn dropped to the ground laughing. He rolled in the snow, unable to express his mirth solely through sound. Ruby glared at him for a moment, before joining in. “I felt pretty dumb,” she continued laughing, “but he said yes.” White Leaf’s eyes widened. “He said yes?” “Jokingly of course. But I was so excited. I started planning the wedding right away. I didn’t see him a for a few months though, an’ I eventually lost interest. He still teases me ‘bout it though.” White Leaf chuckled. The two traveled in silence for a few minutes. “Do you have one?” Ruby suddenly asked. “Have one what?” “A wife. Or mate. Somepony special.” “No, I don’t.” White Leaf answered. “Why not?” “I... In my, uh, city, we don’t really have special someponies. We just reproduce with our assigned mate when the time calls for it.” Ruby’s eyes widened. “Oh,” she said softly. After a pause, she ended, “ew.” White Leaf nodded. “I never, um, had to. I was too young last season. And we do still have marriages in some cases. Occasionally, if one gets attached, the Council will allow them to bond together. It’s one of the few ways that females in our society can gain positions of meaning.” Ruby stopped. “What does that mean?” “What does what mean?” “Position of meaning.” “Oh,” White Leaf chewed his lip, trying to come up with a non-offensive way to explain. “It’s just that, we, um, have a form of hierarchy that tends to place our wea- I mean our female counterparts on the lower end. You know what,” White Leaf added quickly, “It’s stupid and it doesn’t apply here.” “You’re right,” Ruby agreed. “It is stupid.” As soon as she finished, the forest broke. The pair stood at the edge of a wide tundra. A light snow covered the ground. For the first time since the camp, White Leaf could clearly see the full moon. Off in the distance stood the tall, metallic buildings of some ancient city. But the pair didn’t get to admire the scenery for long. They were quickly surrounded by a group of ponies, clad in purple and yellow armor. They were mostly earth ponies, though a couple pegasi and a single unicorn were mixed in with the group. Lances and spears were attached to the sides of the soldiers. They circled around White Leaf and Ruby, blocking escape. White Leaf’s horn glew slightly as the unicorn unsheathed his blade. But Ruby placed a hoof on him gently, telling him to lower the weapon. “Who are they?” He whispered. “Soldiers of Roam.”
