Chapters 990 ALB, Equestria, Canterlot, Canterlot
Canterlot, the birthplace of unicorns.
I usually leave the past behind, but to this day I remember that time when Cadance, now Princess of the Crystal Empire, abandoned me, exchanged me for my enemy, my competitor.
Shining Armor, such a wretched luck he carries, what a misfortune for me.
Since I got attacked by changelings when I was a nothing more than little foal, my magic has been weak, for all these years I have been just able to levitate some light objects.
That’s why I inscribed myself into the Canterlot School of magic, even though I would have preferred Celestia’s class, this is the best I could have gotten.
It’s been months since I have inscribed, and I feel my magic being restored, slowly.
I open the doors of the classroom, my professor was reading a book on his desk in front of two little desks for his students, “Good evening, professor.”
Without taking his face out of the book, he looked at me, “Evening, Landmarks, please sit,” He sighted, “Landmarks, I've got interesting news for you.”
“What is it, Professor, a new subject?”
He stands up and walks to the window, looking how the sunshine baths the outside, “You’ll be getting a companion.”
Before I could even react, I hear a laughter, no, two ponies laughing, approaching the classroom’s door, but one fades away.
The professor opens the door with his magic from across the room, “Aah! Mister…” It was Shining Armor, who expected to shake his hoof with the professor at the doorframe. He waved his hoof instead, “Hello, Professor Dandelion!”
“Please just call me professor,” He would approach the doorstep as he would get into the room.
I got up the chair when I saw him, exalted, “Mr. Shining Armor, welcome to the Canterlot School of Magic, I hope you’ll learn like my best students did before you.” Said the professor
"Sure thing, sir!" – He answered, as soon as he saw me, he recognized me – “Hey! You are Landmarks, right? Cadance’s childhood friend!”
“Yes, that’s my name, though I haven’t seen Cadance since a long time.”
He walked to his new desk, next to me and sits down, “Well that’s a real bummer, she is so nice… but you knew that already.”
I sit down next to him, without giving him an answer.
The professor teleports in front of the chalkboard and starts the class.
I had to put up with this bolt head for 5 hours straight, in the middle of the class he began talking about chess moves, and I answered quickly with its counter-move until he got frustrated and stopped talking about it, if not talking about useless matters, he was drawing Cadance and the Royal Guard armor on his notebook, and that was his modus operandi for every single class.
Yet his scores were always slightly worse than mine, not like a didn’t expected him to be worse, but he’s been stepping on my heels since I met him for the very first time.
And I was struggling to beat him, he was always acting natural, if he really wanted to beat me, he could have done it years ago.
Time accelerated rapidly as competition increased, months passed on and winter took us by surprise.
And finally, a week before Heartswarming Eve, the professor declared that my magic power was restored, I could finally enter the real class, and really compete against him.
The final exam was tomorrow, I was just leaving the class and Shining Armor spoke up, “Landmarks!” – I sighed and turned my head towards him – “Good luck with the finals tomorrow!”
“Keep it to yourself, Shining Armor! How else are you going to pass?!” I answered in a mocking tone, I never left nothing to chance, tomorrow’s results won’t be the exception.
I went home, to the Canterlot palace, Cadance didn’t live there anymore, she moved to the Crystal palace on the north.
But my contact with the princesses has not ended, on rare occasions I have the pleasure of having tea with Princess Celestia and chatting with her.
I discovered that she has a certain affection for Shining Armor's family, since her sister is her number one student, and that her magical abilities are unique in all of Equestria.
But she never dispelled my hopes of becoming captain of the royal guard, in fact, she lit the flame inside me more than anyone.
Her words were so captivating, such ensnaring motivation she casted through just words, I would never give up, I will never give up.
Then, the long-awaited day came, the day of the final exam. It wasn’t that bad, not as I expected it to be, it started with some theorical questions about magic and its properties, it also had spell questions, both for defense and offense, historic magic questions and so.
It took its time but I managed to finish my exam, Curiously, Shining Armor handed his exam to the teacher before me.
As soon as both exams were on the professor’s desk, we were suddenly teleported to the lower plains of Canterlot.
“Very well, students, welcome to the practical exam, you will go through these magic tests using real magic, like we did in exercises before these tests.”
This was the test that could end me, with Shining Armor already skilled in the arts of magic, and me who barely just got it back, I had to give it all.
I walked to my first exercise, levitation. Basic exercise, all unicorns have the ability of levitation, some are stronger than others, I made a boulder fly over my head, it was heavy but a fair object for this exercise, Passed.
Next was, transmutation, the art of transforming objects into others, and then teletransportation.
After the basic spells, there was two more, magic shield, and magic bolt.
I began with magic bolt, I aimed to a target 50 meters away from me, I struggled in focusing my magic but I managed to fire.
The magic bolt sped through the air rapidly and hits the target, the result wasn’t anything special, but it was a good one.
Shining Armor’s bolt was potent, way more than mine, but he missed the target, so he lost points.
And the final spell, the magic shield I casted was enough to protect at least 6 ponies.
But then, Shining Armor did the impossible, He casted a magic shield so big, it covered the whole city of Canterlot. Professor Dandelion was amazed, so was I, such demonstration of magic was only performed by the princesses, or legendary history characters like Starswirl.
The exams were over.
The professor ringed a little bell, “Young colts, you have performed excellent, I see great futures in both of you, I’ll have the results in some minutes, wait here.” He said, and then teleported.
I stood next to Shining Armor quietly.
“Do you think I’ve passed?” asked me Shining Armor
“You’d do fine as a border patrol.” I answered, looking away from him.
“You did pretty fine too, maybe you’ll have to train your magic a little more but you got the knowledge and determination to be a great colt someday,” – I remained silent, he was waiting for me to compliment him back – “Well… the professor is taking a while, what do you think he’s doing?”
“Reading our exams? He said he was going to give us the results, give him time.” I replied
We waited, silently, then, after 5 minutes, we were teleported to the classroom.
Cadance and Shining Armor’s family and friends were there, “Sorry for taking so long in bringing you two here, Shining’s friends and family broke in the room.”
The sound of hooves clapping the floor heard reverberated across the big classroom and the ovations to him assaulted my ears.
The professor gave Shining Armor his exam first, “I got a B+!!!”
The shouting became louder and Shining Armor left the room hugging his family.
And the classroom suddenly, became silent, like months ago when I was training alone with the professor.
I walked to his desk, he showed me my test, “Congratulations Landmarks, you got an A+”
I sighed, out of relief, “Thanks, professor.”
He placed his hoof on the exam, not letting me take it, “Landmarks… don’t try to be better than Shining Armor, try to be better than yourself, you have so much potential, don’t waste it all on jealousness.” Then he let go of the paper sheet.
I was shocked, I Couldn’t think of an answer, so I nodded.
Then I rapidly took the paper sheet, and I put it in my saddlebag, “Goodbye, professor.”
967 ALB, Equestria, Flanks, Acornage
Acornage, Where the cloudy grey skies of the western marshes hegemonizes with our beautiful clear sky.
I was playing solitaire on the large dining table, I sighed, the house maid stared at me, knowing the meaning of my face.
“Don’t think too much about it, Oxford… your father is fine inside a cozy office.” Her northwestern accent was always present when she talked.
“Thanks, Quehlanx, but I’m not worried about him, I just… I never had the chance to really… meet him.”
“You will someday, you just have to wait,” she said, trying to recomfort my brief solitude.
“You know… I never expected the Changelings to change so well until you came along. I'd love to see them in harmony with us ponies someday.”
“How ironic, isn’t it?” – Said with a grin, hidden by her left hoof – “But feeding out of love is a real problem that we are sadly far from solving, young Oxford.”
The front door knocks at the end of the hall, Quehlanx goes to open it, “I know that’s the big bummer, but maybe we could find a way around it,” When Quehlanx opened the door, mom appeared on its frame, she was home too soon, I walk towards her and give her a welcoming hug, “Why so early?”
“There's been a... mishap, at the City Hall,” – She replied – “Involving Changelings who want Equestrian citizenship. I just came for lunch... Then I have to get back to work and stay until midnight.” She takes off her winter coat, Quehlanx hangs it next to the door.
“We were just talking about a similar subject, I could help you if you need, I don’t work today.” I wanted to help mom, after all she has done to feed us and keep us warm during winters, it is the least I can do.
We walk together to the kitchen, “Thank you dear, but I don’t think you can help in any way…” – We sit on the dining table and she notices my cards – “What a nice play you are having, Quehlanx.”
She approaches the kitchen as she answers, “That match is Oxford’s.” She reaches the kitchen counter, and begins to prepare a meal for everypony.
“You’ve been playing solitaire, Oxford?” – She grabs my hoof from across the table – “You know if you are bored, we could go for a walk someday.”
“I’m fine mom, I’ve just been thinking a about dad, we nearly don’t get any letters from him anymore, do you even speak to him?” I asked, she put both her front hooves on the chair, and looked down.
“He’s… working… hard ,” She didn't convince me at all, there was something she was hiding from me, maybe so I wouldn't worry. She looked up again, “Quehlanx, is Landmarks sleeping?”
She pulled a knife from the cabinet and cut red peppers – “He is in his crib, I don't know if sleeping or not, but he has been really calm since I last checked him half an hour ago.”
Mom and I exchanged glances, "Maybe I should go check on him." she said.
"I want to check on him too," we both got up from the table and went up the stairs, the door was at the end of the hall, when we opened it, we saw him, standing over his crib next to the window, watching through it the snowflakes falling from the white winter sky, outside the window the streets were all covered with snow, and we could see a lot of houses and buildings, since we live in the top floor of a big department, "There he is."
The moment he noticed the warm light from the hallway, he turned around, leaned on the crib and smiled.
“Aww… how is my little cute Landymarky…” – Said affectionately, just like she used to talk to me when I was little, we both approached the crib and gave the little pony a closer look, yellow mustard mane and a dark red body – “With the colors of his father…” I swear I heard a little tone of misfortune, as if she didn't like those facts, I had to come up with something.
“Well, at least he has your beautiful emerald eyes.”
“Ay! Jealous of your little brother Oxford?” – She pushed me softly with her hoof – “I carried you for years, even before Quehlanx became our house maid, you had your golden times, now is his turn.”
We both laughed a little, and it felt good making her laugh. She carried Landmarks on her Right wing and brought him down the stairs, Quehlanx was preparing the table, she was already finishing cooking our meal.
When we all sat down, we talked about work and ate the delicious food that Quehlanx had prepared, my mother and brother laughed and smiled with joy, but finally, after lunch, my mother got up, put on her coat, said goodbye, and went to work.
972 ALB, Changeling Lands, Vraks, Vraks’ Hive
Vraks, where the hope of a peaceful changeling nation, was fighting its end.
It was early night, yet the sky was painted in dark grey because of the smoke from chimneys. It was autumn, but no leaves were seen falling, not even seen on the ground, not even seen on the trees.
Landmarks was alongside Quehlanx on the roads that surround the hive of Vraks, which was visible from kilometers away.
They both were walking to the house of Quehlanx’s family, since she had to pay a visit sometime each year, and Oxford and Tinted Pages were in a diplomatic meeting with the Queen of Vraks, Landmarks couldn’t stay in home alone.
Quehlanx looked at the little foal bouncing by her side, “Aren’t you excited, young Landy?”
“Yes ma’am, I always wanted to see how were the lands of the changelings!” – He stops jumping and takes a moment to look his surroundings – “Pretty darn grey!”
“It is pretty grey… and I used to say that Equestria was too colorful for my taste,” – As they walk over a hill, a house on the road becomes visible, made out of wood, mud and hay on the roof – “Look! that’s my family’s house! Looks exactly as I remember it.”
When we arrived to the house, the changeling let Landmarks knock the door, behind the door they could hear the boards creaking, both of them moved away from the door and then, an old changeling would open it.
"Rallis! It's been forever since we last saw each other. How's the family?" The old changeling pierced his eyes into Landmarks
“Hello, Quehlanx, it’s been like a year… What is doing that little foal with you?” Said as he pointed at Landmarks, who didn’t understand a word they were saying.
“Ah! this is Landmarks, I’m taking care of him for a while, his family had to do a diplomatic meeting in the hive with the queen.” – She would alternate between languages for a second – “Landmarks, this is my… let’s say brother, Rallis.”
“Why would some ponies hold a meeting with the queen of the Vraks hive?” Asked with a tone of disbelief
“As I said, they are diplomats, after 2 years discussing matters with Princess Celestia, they can finally talk to the Queen about the changelings who want Equestrian citizenship and live there.”
“With the Vesapolis hive lurking, I don't think the queen will let her changelingpower escape to Equestria.” – He steps away from the door frame, letting them both pass – “Come in, it’s cold outside.”
The floor of the house was made of loose wooden planks, the walls were made of mud with some logs being the structural base of these, the lights were nothing more than candles and the bonfire in the small living room, from which in the hallway the shadows of Quehlanx's younger relatives could be seen.
“Younglings! say hello to your sister” – The little changelings who were warming themselves by the fireplace turned their heads to their sister, unnecessarily slowly, their eyes shining in the shadows, which alternated between light blue, purple and green, “Quehlanx!!!” They shouted, then pounced on their sister and exchanged hugs with her, Landmarks stood there awkwardly, debating whether he found the situation terrifying or loving.
Rallis walked through the kitchen and stood next to the little pony, “Younglings, this is Landmarks! He's a pony!” – He shouted, the little bugs get near the pony, amazed by the new creature – “He’s our guest for tonight and we’ll bring him to hunt with us.”
Quehlanx stood up, “Hunt?! I don’t think he can handle that...”
“Don’t worry Quehlanx, they call me a Jaeger for a reason, I’ll take care of him, I promise.”
“Fine, but I want no scratches.” – She turns to Landmarks and kneels – “Landy, these are my closer relatives, they will go hunt in a while and they are inviting you to come with them, or you can stay here with me…”
“I’ll go with them, Miss!” He said with excitement.
“Okay, but you have to be very, very careful alright? It’s not an activity that you do for fun, but to survive.”
“Sure, Miss! I’ll be just fine” – He smiled at her, even though he had no idea how to hunt.
“Rallis! When are you guys going out?” – She asked, raising her head towards him
“Like… Right now, Quehly,” – He raises his hooves and buzzes his wings to stay standing, – “Younglings! Time for hunt!”
The little changelings rush out the place flying, the foal follows them, trotting out the house.
Rallis led the hunting, the little changelings played with Landmarks as they followed their leader, the language barrier didn’t matter.
After a pair of hours of lurking in the forest, Rallis stops the march raising his hoof. He began to crawl on the ground towards some bushes, the other changelings and the pony followed him, “Omukade…” beyond the bushes, a giant centipede, not taller than a pony but longer than ten of them, the creature sparkled fear and adrenaline inside Landmarks.
Rallis shined bright, and an aura of magic surrounded him, he had turned into a giant centipede, though a bit tinier than the one behind the bushes.
Landmarks gasped, wanting to scream his soul out, but the other little changelings prevent this from happening.
Rallis crawled through the bushes, everyling and Landmarks sat inside the bushes, hidden from the giant centipede. They saw Rallis, doing some sort of movement to lure the other creature, which works.
Then, Rallis strikes, calling his army of little changelings to cover the monster in some sort of goop, capturing it.
Changeling bellies were roaring with hunger, they made a line in front of the monster and began to consume his love, but before everyling could get some love, it would have been depleted, leaving some hungry.
“I’m sorry younglings… I guess you’ll have to eat organic tonight… Let’s go home,” Rallis said sadly, the little changelings portrayed disgrace in their faces. They walked through the forest back to their home.
Quehlanx was reading a book by the warmness of the fireplace when his sibling arrives home, she started counting the little changelings as they got inside the house, they were all here, Landmarks jumped at her and gave her a hug, He had a face of fear and amazement, “There was a giant centipede! Mr. Rallis turned into one and they all captured it!”
“Thank Celestia it was the normal hunting… Did you have fun young Landmarks?” She asked while holding the foal in between her hooves
“Yes, I did! But I’m pretty weary right now, and a bit hungry, is there something to eat?”
“No… I don’t think there is anything to eat… why don’t you go to sleep in my old bed? It’s upstairs, through the white door.”
“Sure Miss!” Landmarks hopped off her and trotted upstairs, slowing down as he approached the white door.
The room was tiny, just a little more room for a bed the size of Quehlanx and a little table on its side, he climbed on the bed, and he wrapped himself into the sheets.
He fell into a profound dream, though it would not last for long, his sleep was interrupted by the warm light of the little hallway outside the room.
Then, the door closed, rapidly, he heard little hoofsteps climbing the dark walls, and bright eyes were seen on the roof, he began to feel weak, tired and emotionless, he felt how his love and happiness was being taken out of him.
The door knocked, and the eyes hide in the shadows, “Young Landmarks… your family is here, is time to go,” – He doesn’t respond – “Poor little thing…” She carried him, taking him outside.
He saw his family on a carriage, but he fell asleep, once more.
980 ALB, Crystal Empire, Feldspar Fields, Ponytown
Ponytown, where all fates converge in one.
Acornage was always very monochromatic for me, even in the summers, the sky was gray because of the western clouds, Ponytown, on the other hand, had very lively colors.
From the carriage in which I was transported, I could glimpse the life and harmony of this place.
The sun rays pierced through the planks, illuminating the pages of the pamphlet I was reading about Ponytown.
It didn’t have nothing important, just information about the lands around the town and its agricultural benefits.
The carriage stops, I hear a knocking in the planks, and shadows cover the sun rays, “We have arrived,” It was the cabcolt speaking, “You can get out now.”
I put my saddlebags on, and I get out the carriage.
I was greeted with a little school in the middle of some plains with a little number of trees, the road was made out of gravel, “Well, goodbye little foal.” Said the cabcolt, and went back to the road where we come from.
I walked inside the school, there was a long corridor and everything was strangely silent, I walked directly to the principal’s room to get myself registered.
As I was getting closer to the principal’s room, I began to hear a lively symphony at the end of the corridor.
I checked the last door of the corridor, I saw a lot of ponies, singing and playing instruments in harmony, the conductor was a pink, tricolored mane, pegasus filly, like the same age as me.
But then I saw something on that filly, she wasn’t just a pegasus, she was an alicorn.
I was stunned, this was impossible, an Alicorn, so young?
I had to focus, I went directly to the principal’s room, and i got myself registered.
“So, Young, you come from Acornage?” – Asks the principal – “That’s pretty far away from here, I’ll have to give you a room in our residences… Let me see which ones i have free,” He opens a cabinet and pulls out a file, he reads it, “Let’s see…” He grins and drags a sheet of paper across the desk towards me, “You got lucky little foal, room 7, you’ll have a great companion.” He gave me a copy of the keys to that room.
I went to the residences next to the school, I looked for room 7, and I found it.
I got in the room, there was a lot of posters of popular artists of the time, and it had a lot of pink items, some even with jewelry.
The residence hallway blasted with shouting and ovations since the school hours had ended.
I looked through the window, ponies walking on the road of gravel, to their ho-
“Who are you?!” – A strident voice spoke to me from behind me – “This is MY room!”
I turned my head towards her, it was the alicorn, I walked towards her and I give her the papers the principal gave me, she rolls her eyes, “Who the hay are you?!” She asks, “Are you new here?” I nod my head in response, she seems to be turning her voice down a little. She sighs, “Sorry I presented myself like this, I never expected to have a companion,” – She shook my hoof – “My name is Mi Amore Cadenza, but you can call me Cadance! I come from Equestria.”
I nodded, “My name is Landmarks.” I began to unpack my stuff with my magic, she stared at me with a confused face.
“That’s all you’re going to say? Not a big fan of words, eh?” She giggled, and began to help me unpack, “Well, Landmarks, where are you from?”
“Acornage.”
“I’ve never been in Acornage. How is it there?”
“Cold, cloudy.”
Cadance sighed, she was getting a bit exhausted, “Why did you choose this school and not the ones in Acornage?”
“I was sent here.”
“Why, is it because of your talking problem?”
I stared at her, annoyed, “I guess.”
“Ok… I’ll leave you with your things, have a nice afternoon!” She then left the room, I took my books, drawing kit and my family pictures.
I didn’t touch a thing from her side of the room, everything was in place, yet my side of the room was a little darker than Her’s, and I didn’t want to ruin her… ambience.
So, with my magic, I turned some objects from my side to red.
For some reason, when I was 5, or 6 years old, I was extremely talented in control of magic, and my school average was outmatched.
Hours passed, I was drawing on a desk, it was nighttime, I hear a knock, “Pass.”
The door opened, it was Cadance, and some friends of her, “This is my new roommate! Landmarks!” Her friends entered the room, “Landmarks, these are my friends! Lemony Gems and Diamond Rose.”
“Hello Landmarks!” They both say in unison, I’d wave at them
“Today we have a party and… I was thinking you could come with us!” She puts her hoof my shoulder, “Maybe that could cheer you up…”
I saw a spark in her eyes, she was doing her best to make everypony happy, I just couldn’t say no, “Sure, I’ll go.”
“Amazing! You’ll go like that?” She meant my look, I wasn’t wearing nothing, I pull out with my magic, from my cabinet, a yellow shirt with palms, and I wear it, “Erm, I guess that’s fine! If you like it.”
I grinned, for the first time in 8 years, she pushed me outside the room with a smiley face, we all went to that party.
We chattered on the way there, me as usual, I said little to no words, Cadance didn’t seem to care, but her friends were trying to ignore me.
We arrived to a big house, “Wither’s house is so big,” said Lemony Gems.
“Yeah! And he’s so nice though…” Replied Diamond Rose, Lemony gasped
“Girls, keep it cool, we haven’t even got inside yet,” said Cadance, trying to tranquilize the situation, her friends were the first ones to get in, Cadance and I were next.
There were ponies dancing along the music, some were drinking apple juice on a bar, A big foal came towards us, “Hey Candy…”
Cadance rolled her eyes, but replied with a smile, “Hello buck! Nice party you are throwing!”
“Only the best for an alicorn,” – He glances on me – “Who is the new pimp!?”
“His name is Landmarks, Buck, and he is no pimp!” Cadance was starting to get annoyed, “Landmarks why don’t you go do some friends? I bet you may find something fun to do.”
I walked away, she stayed and chatted with Buck Withers.
I sit on the bar, “Can I get an apple juice, please?”
The bartender gives me a glass with apple juice, “Who are you!? I’ve never seen you around!” Said a foal that was sitting next to me, he seemed a bit threatening.
“I am Landmarks,” I replied, “from Acornage.”
“What is doing a pimp from Acornage over here in Ponytown?!”
“Study.”
“Well, let me tell you something, pimp, we don’t like changelings over here, neither changeling lovers like the ponies from Acornage, like you.” After saying that he remains quiet, waiting for my reaction.
“You can’t do nothing about it.” I say, he stares at me for a second, as I take a sip from my glass, he pushes me off the stool.
I land on the floor, dropping my glass of apple juice over myself, I try to get up but he pushes me down every time I stand.
Cadance shows up, she protects me with her wings, “Stop it now, Gallopard!”
“He’s a Changeling Lover!” – He accused – “The creatures that steal love in cold blood, to satisfy their need of violence!”
I could hear mumblings surrounding us, about me and Cadance, as she defended the so-called changeling supporter.
I stood up, “So what if I lived among changelings?! They feed on love to survive, not because they have fun with it!”
“Shut up, Changeling lover!”
“Yeah! We don’t like you around here!”
“He’s trying to brainwash us!”
“I bet 5 bits on that he’s an infiltrated changeling!”
I left the place, as hate comments surrounded me.
I went back to my residence, and rested, Cadance came hours later, she sat next to me, “Landmarks...?”
I turned my head towards her, “Mhm?”
“I’m sorry you had to go through that…”
“It’s not your fault,” I turned my head back, thinking she’d just accept it.
“No! I shouldn’t have invited you… I knew they were a bunch of meanies and…”
“What you did was nice, don’t blame yourself for things other ponies did.”
“So… can we still be friends?”
“Sure, Cadance.” I smiled at her, only so she could stop blaming herself, and I tried to go back to sleep.
She then hugged me.
987 ALB, Equestria, Canterlot, Canterlot
Canterlot, a beautiful city for horrible ponies.
It wasn’t just for prestige, Cadance and I went to the Canterlot Academy because there was no other way into our dreams, she was destined to be a princess, but she needed the knowledge for it, I’d have done the same if I was an alicorn, but since I am not, I’ve chosen something that I considered to be equally important, Captain of the Royal Guard, practically, second in command in Equestria.
We both knew we could make these dreams reality, we were both prepared for anything, or that’s what we have expected.
We had just arrived to Canterlot, a well-worn stallion came at me, “Excuse me, are you Mr. Landmarks?”
“Yes sir, what do you need?” I replied, Cadance was still bringing her stuff out the train, while being helped by her friends.
“I was sent you to guide you through the City of Canterlot.”
“Uhm, thanks but I wanted to explore it by myself and with my friend Cadance.” I denied the offer, He pulled a letter out of his pocket.
“I was sent by your father, Lord Sword,” – I was surprised, my father never sent a letter, never in my life – “And he wants you to meet him at the end of the tour.”
I was stunned, my father out of nowhere he wants to meet me, the current Captain of the Guard, “Err… yes, in a moment, wait here,” – I gallop into the train – “Cadance!”
She turns to me, “Landmarks! What’s happening?”
“It’s my father! He sent me a messenger and he said he wants to meet me!” Cadance gasped, and dropped her stuff
“Oh, Celestia! You’ll meet the Captain of the Royal Guard?! Can I go with you?”
“But of course you can!” – We trotted outside, to the messenger – “Mister! She’s coming with me!”
“Very well then.”
“Wait! I still got stuff on the train!” Said Cadance, Worried
“Don’t worry miss, I’ll send a letter to my companions to take your stuff to the royal palace.”
“The Royal Palace?!” We said Cadance and I in unison.
“Yes, there is where both of you will reside from now on.” Cadance and I looked at each other's faces, we could see how they were overflowing with eagerness and happiness for the coming years.
“Then let’s get going!” The messenger said, and the tour began.
We visited a lot of famous places in Canterlot, we even made some stops to rest and eat, it was a nice day.
But then, almost at the end of the tour we arrived the Canterlot Palace, it was big inside, its marble floor had beautiful patterns and its columns were tall and golden.
“Landmarks! I’m going to greet Celestia, I want to present her to you after you meet your dad.” Said Cadance, waving her hoof at me while walking through the corridor.
“Sure, Cadance!” I answered while walking with the messenger.
He stopped next to a door, “He’s inside waiting for you, Young Landmarks.”
My legs began to shake nervously, I grabbed the doorknob, and opened the door.
The room wasn’t big, but it was very tall, it was only illuminated by the sunset’s orange light that went through two big windows, as big as the wall, on the sides of the room.
And he was there in the center, sitting on a chair in front of a lonely desk, in the middle of the shadows, “Ahhh! There he approaches, my favorite son.”
I approached to him, “Hello dad…”
He hops off the chair and walks towards me, “I always wanted to meet you kid!”
“Really?” I said confused, “Why you never visited us?”
“Ahhh! I was working son, life is hard in Canterlot, hard and busy.” He replied, “So. You are going to the Academy?! That’s something to be proud of son, you are just like… well almost like your father, you even have my colors! Except for the eyes, I guess.”
“The eyes of mom, eh?”, He then glanced at my eyes, and rolled up his.
“Okay, well, not everypony can be perfect but you’ll be fine,” – He went back to his desk, sitting in his chair, he took a bottle of apple liquor and uncorked it – “I’ve heard… things, son, that you are going for the role of Captain of the Guard, just like your father.”
“Yes, sir, a nice goal, isn’t it?”
He began drinking the liquor from the tap, using his magic to levitate the bottle, “Well, yeah, Hmh! It’s a nice goal, but you’ll have to go over me, kid…”
I stuttered, “W-what?”
“You see, being Captain of the Guard is not an easy duty, unless you are experienced as me, General Rusty Sword,” He drank more liquor, though the effects weren’t noticeable, maybe he was already drunk or maybe he could have developed resistance towards alcohol, “What I mean to say is that with me in charge there’s no need for a replacement, kid, I’m simply unbeatable, and… you? don’t have what it takes, sorry to break it to you.”
Those words broke me, after so much time, my father sends me to meet him so that... he destroys my dream?
“This conversation is over, you can leave now.”
I galloped out of the room, with deep sadness and discouragement, I went to my room and spent some time alone there.
“How dare he… After all my life wanting to know him, he turns out to be a bucking bastard…” – I step off my bed – “Just wait and you will see, father.”
When I got a little bit relaxed, I walked out the room and I look for Cadance.
I hear her voice down the hallway, talking, I approach the door and get in.
It was a balcony, very high on the Canterlot palace, “Oh! Celestia, he’s the pony I was talking about just now!” I was standing in the same floor as Princess Celestia, I bowed rapidly.
“Princess Celestia! It’s an honor.” She put her hoof on her lips, hiding her grin.
“You don’t have to do that, young Landmarks.” Said the princess, Cadance placed her hoof below my chin and raised my head.
“Come Landy, sit with us!” Said Cadance, we walked around a little round table next to the edge of the balcony.
“So, Landmarks, I’ve been receiving a lot of letters from Cadance, I don’t think she told you, but I was the one who sent her to Ponytown, to spread love and friendship,” – Said as she drank some tea – “She also told me you want to be Captain of the Guard, just like your… father.”
“Yes, Princess, I want to keep my head at the heights of Cadance, our friendship is something that I couldn’t let slip out of my hooves so easily.”
“Landmarks! That’s so cute of you… I remember when we met, you didn’t talk at all but eventually we got the boat sailing!”
“Sounds like an unbreakable bond of friendship, you are nothing like your father, Landmarks, I’ll be hoping for your success in the future, but be aware, it isn’t an easy path to walk on.”
“I’ll do it, and I will be the best Captain of the Royal Guard ever, I promise, my Princess Celestia.”
Celestia stood up, “Very well, it was a nice evening, I’ve got some work to do, you two can rest in your room, tomorrow classes begin,” – She began flying high to another balcony – “See you later, little ponies!”
We wave back to her and we walked to our room, “So? How was your meeting with your father? Sorry I wasn't able to go with you as I said...”
“Don't worry, He… He didn’t like me”
“What happened?”
“He told me I couldn’t achieve my goals, but honestly… I don’t care, I’ll beat him.”
She gasped, “Your father is such a donkey! He has no idea what’s coming for him.”
“Shush! Don’t say that!” We laughed, “But yeah, he has no idea.”
We got to our room, Cadance’s stuff was piled up in the center of the room, I helped her to organize it.
The very next day, we walked to the Canterlot Academy, sadly we didn’t get the same classroom, but we could see each other during breaks.
My classmates were no match for me.
Except for one colt, one… single colt, that spent his time playing with his friends in the back of the class instead of studying…
Shining Armor was his name.
995 ALB, Equestria, Severyana, Princessyn
Princessyn, land of blood and concrete.
My father, has chosen me to die in these cold lands of mud, metal, concrete and oil.
He wanted me out of the game since a long time ago, and with these attacks, it was clear that he had gone insane.
The day of today is December, 14, It was cloudy and the streets were soaked, it had rained not long ago. I’m marching to the Princessyn center as a lieutenant.
An earthpony trotted towards me, “Lieutenant Landmarks, we have found a group of revolutionaries coming towards us, what do we do?”
“How many are they?” I asked
“The recon team counted thirty armed ponies.”
“We are sixty ponies here and we got three pegasi patrols on the roofs, we shall meet them in the center and fight.”
“Yes, Lieutenant.” He said and trotted back to his recon team, suddenly, a bullet would pierce through his chest. He starts to scream.
“REVOLUTIONARIES! GET COVER!” Said a sergeant mare in the back.
A shootout began in the streets, most covers used were cars, destroyed by revolutionaries.
I levitated my officer revolver above me, peeking carefully out my cover, I saw a unicorn mare running towards our position, she was levitating a bunch of hoof grenades, I shot her right front hoof, she fell to the ground in pain, and dropped the grenades.
The grenades didn’t explode and she crawled out of the fire, and as soon as she got cover, the grenades levitated towards her.
Grenades were thrown all over our position, shrapnel took out many of our ponies.
I saw one fly over my position, so I peeked out and shot through her cover, the grenades stopped.
As soon as I kneeled down again, I heard a metallic sound hit the ground right next to my left side, it was a grenade.
I rapidly try to generate a magic shield, and the grenade explodes.
Shrapnel hits my shield and ricochets away, but some had pierced my left back leg and one got my left eye.
I scream out of pain, “I’M HIT!” Repeatedly, I covered my wounds with my hooves as I waited for the medic to show up, my blood was escaping my body rapidly.
A mare in white, wearing a red cross galloped towards me, “Here I am, Lieutenant, you will be fine.” She said as I struggled.
She bandaged my wounds, put a tourniquet on my left leg, and gave me a little dose of morphine.
The pain slowly faded, but it was still there, I peeked out my cover, the revolutionaries were advancing, I peeked out my cover and…
I felt… something, like an extreme focus, I levitated my revolver and I aimed towards the revolutionaries, I fire several times, I don’t even know if I’m hitting something or not, I kneel down and I reload, bullet after bullet inside the revolver drum.
The crystal of the car I’m using as cover gets pierced by a bullet, glass shards shine bright as they fall to the ground and break into even more shards.
I peek out once more, I don’t know if it was the morphine but, I felt nothing, no fear, no joy.
Nothing, just pure cold mind.
I shot my revolver down the street, following my instinct.
Some revolutionaries were hit, and maybe killed, the others that weren’t began to retreat, leaving the injured behind as they shout for help.
My mind faded in, and the pain came back, I sit on the ground, leaning against the car. The medic was still here, proning on the floor covering her head with her front hooves.
“Take me to the truck…” I told her.
She was in shock and couldn’t reply, I booped her head to make her snap back, she stared at my face.
“Can you please… take me out of here…” She grabbed me from my uniform and took me to the back formations.
She lays me on a medical stretcher, “Sir, your leg will recover, in its due time… But your eye, Sir…" – She began to stutter – "It’s lost… we’ll have to take it out so your wound doesn’t infect.”
“Fine…” I said silently and closed my eyes.
She called one of her companions and they took the sides of the medical stretcher, and placed me in a truck.
A soldier drove the truck to a medical center outside the city, so I could get my operation.
They took me to a surgery tent and they anesthetized me.
When I woke up, I had a bandage covering half of my head, and my leg wounds were sewed up but it still hurt.
A sergeant got in the tent and walked towards me, “Are you feeling better, Sir?” he asked
“The pain is ceasing a little, what do you need, Sargeant?”
“Sir, we received orders to abandon the siege and the territory of Severyana.”
“...Orders from who?” I asked in disbelief.
“The Princess… Sir, Rusty Sword was fired an hour ago, High Command is being consorted by the Princess herself.”
“I see…” – I took a sheet of paper from a table right next to me and a pen I had on my uniform, I began to write something in it – “We shall do as she commands then, prepare the troops for withdrawal.” I say, and I hoof him over the sheet of paper with this order.
“We are on it, Sir.” He trots out the medical tent.
I stood up and I got out the tent too, the soldiers were preparing to return home, as they loaded their belongings into the trucks, they began to laugh with their friends, who survived the revolutionaries.
And now that my father was out of the game… It was my time to be finally, the Captain of the Guard.
I walked to the command center that was in this military settlement.
As the door opened, I was instantly greeted with the angry shouting of the brigade general, arguing about the decisions of Celestia.
I got into my office and I packed my stuff on my saddlebags, the brigade general got in, “You heard the news? Your father was fired from his position of Captain of the Guard.”
“Yes, I’ve heard” I turned to him, revealing my eye wound.
“Landmarks! what happened to your eye!?” He asked.
“A grenade fell right next to me, I managed to survive thanks to a magic shield I casted but I got injured anyways.”
He sounded sorrow, “Princess Celestia cancelled the whole operation, feels like all the sacrifice we did was for nothing.”
“Are you angry at the Princess, Sir? Her word is final, we can’t do nothing about it.”
“But we can… there are many soldiers that think the same, and I think you know where things are going.”
It was clear he wanted to dethrone princess Celestia, “Sorry, I’ll have to pass, Sir,” – I levitated my bag and I wore my saddlebags – “See you in Canterlot, Sir.” I walked out the command center.
I headed to the truck and I crawled in, soldiers were chatting while they were waiting for the truck to leave the place.
“Hey, Sir!” Said one soldier to me, “Bringing some souvenir for home?”
“Mmh, nah… they wanted a souvenir from me.” I replied, referring to my eye, they burst out laughing.
The truck began to move southward, and the soldiers sang along the road.
When I got arrived to Canterlot, I went directly to the palace so I could get my position as new Captain of the Guard.
The guards already knew me, so the let me into the throne room, “Princess Celestia!”
The Princess was standing in front of the window on one of the sides of the throne room, “Oh, Landmarks.” – She looked at me as I approached her – "What happened to your eye?!" She asked.
"Just a little scratch," – I stood by her side – “I’ve heard you fired my father.”
She sighed, “... Yes, it is true, and for a good reason, finally…”
“Well… if it makes you feel better, I didn’t like him either,” – Her face looks serious, like if she didn’t like being with me – “Is there a problem, Princess?”
“Landmarks, you... won’t be Captain of the Royal Guard.”
My heart stopped for a second, I’ve been fighting for this dream all my life, and Celestia is now denying me it, “W-why not?”
“Landmarks, your father was the one responsible for this massacre and I don't want something like that to happen again in the near future, for that reason I chose Shining Armor as the new Captain of the Royal Guard, since his score in practice in defense strategies is superior to yours.”
As she would say this, Shining Armor would appear from behind her, wearing the uniform of Captain of the Guard, "Hello, Landmarks.”
My blood boiled as I tried to keep a neutral face before her, “I’m sorry Landmarks, your time will come when it comes.”
“By the time that time comes, it will be too late, there will be hundreds, thousands, hundreds of thousands dead. Why he, an imbecile, who only knows how to defend a city with a SIMPLE SHIELD SPELL, locking all the Ponies inside so that the enemy can be reinforced outside and those inside can starve to death, be the Captain of the Royal Guard!?” I answered, both were shocked by my response, and Shining Armor got angry, but the princess stopped him from hurting me.”
“War doesn’t change, Landmarks, ponies… die… but most can be saved from death, that’s why I picked Shining Armor, he knows how to treat with people.”
“Wars... change, strategies deepen, weapons improve, soldiers evolve... death and destruction... increases, there will come a time when deterrence will not be enough, and when that time comes, how many homes will have to be destroyed, how many lives ruined before you call me, Princess?”
The room, felt silent, Princess Celestia had no answer, “Goodbye, my Princess, call me when you need me, if you dare.” I walked down the hall, outside the palace.
The sun was shining, bright white, and it felt like if sunset, never arrived.