Heresy

Heresy-Fires of the Forge

Truly the world was in disarray. In some places, the martial law had caused the outright rebellion of some ponies in the larger cities, mostly those living in lower class areas. Manehattan was in chaos as many ponies that worked more manual jobs protested at their inability to do much and eventually fought back against some of the guards. In retaliation, a non-violent protest was broken up and the leaders of the protest arrested. In one case, a colt was publicly executed for speaking out against the laws set by the Princess.

Baltimare was in a terrible state and in a similar set of disarray, but to an ever greater extent. Reports of freak weather tearing through the city, but even worse, at the same time, a revolution was beginning. City Guards were being killed, as well as members of the Equestrian Guard, but it quickly escalated when meeting places and homes were invaded, ponies being murdered in their sleep.

The hardest hit areas though, were down south, near the beaches and Eternity's Crossing ocean. Storms of an unbelievable magnitude ravaged the lower reaches. Entire communities were swept off the map. The pegasi had no idea what to do against such weather and many were killed trying to slow the monstrous weather patterns.

All of this, born out of madness on the part of their newly, self-appointed Queen. In contrast, Princess Luna seemed rather stable and went to the relief of many damaged cities, speaking openly to the citizens of how times would become better soon and that they only needed to cooperate, as the life of everypony was to be cherished and not wasted.

"What is this, Colonel?" the Queen asked of her subordinate. "As I read it, it seems to be outright opposition from your sister. She says she doesn't see herself as my student anymore. Her loyalty seems to be broken. I shall have to speak to her and show her directly why this has occurred and that what she has read is nothing more than a lie. Now, need I question your own loyalty?" Celestia said moderately. Shining Armour had always been closer to his sister than anypony else. Even his own wife, and that bond was only strengthened by the destruction of King Sombra.

In truth, the Queen didn't wish to question her student. The young pony was incredibly capable and intelligent, if a little hot headed sometimes. Her lack of companions only did more to increase her hunger for knowledge. Spike, the young dragon being her only friend, and almost like a son in some cases, it seemed.

Her brother on the other hand, was an example to everypony and was the poster-pony for her subordinates. At least, those that were willing to cooperate with her new kingdom. Didn't they all understand how vital it was for there to be absolute unity? Without it they might be overrun by their enemies.

In fact, why wouldn't they do as she wished now? She had always been a fair ruler and this wasn't very different. So they couldn't stay out as late as they wanted. It was for their own protection. She couldn't just tell the public what they were averting right now. The Griffons were pushing further into pony territory every single hour and it was hard to keep up. They always tried to break into small places and create footholds, though In some places, her military had outright broken through the mountain ranges and had put many Griffonian settlements and lairs to the flames of their righteous fury.

All of this she pondered as she listened to the banter back and forth between her commanders and appointed leaders. Tactics, supply lines, casualties, the rambling went on and on. Her personal guards seemed to be staring straight ahead, but nopony could ever tell. Their reflective glass visors and multi-lenses didn't allow for any to see their eyes. In fact, the only natural thing you could see, was their short tails. Beyond that, nothing was visible through the armour. Ramrod straight and alert. She smiled inwardly. Only she could have created such perfection. Such raw loyalty.

She felt no guilt at taking them from their parents when they were no more than just mere foals. Most of them would have had terrible lives as the working class. With her help and guidance they were made more than any other pony could hope to be. Her original plans were ambitious and difficult to even comprehend, but progress was slowly made.

Day in and day out, her young recruits were forced to gallop great distances, learn battle tactics, fight, compete in games, learn to work with each other, as well as alone, and above all, to survive. In fact, she remembered that when their training regimen was written up by her old guard captain before his retirement, he had been reluctant to put such young ones under such duress. Five kilometers galloping in the morning, followed by obstacles and then a learning sessions, in which they received a little hay and water. From there, competition and games of strength and speed, as well as intelligence and teamwork. Celestia was dis-satisfied with this, and demanded the physical aspects be doubled as well as the rule of whichever team lost at the end of the day, received nothing more than a small ration of water.

That was only the start. The creation of a magic and science based program led to her own discovery and creation of augmentation. Using her own magic, she was able to duplicate and enhance innate abilities, increasing the effectiveness of specified magic in other races and their own powers. In the case of unicorns, their power was greatly enhanced, but their training was made more personalized after they received their individual modifications. Power, was one thing. Control, was where it truly became difficult to master, but with great power and greater control, the soldiers she needed, the soldiers Equestria needed, would be born.

From the earth ponies, she pressed even harder. They stayed in their groups but were made to do impossible tasks. Earth pony magic, as she discovered was reserved in great wells stored within their very hearts. Under extraneous circumstances, this magic was released, and increased their stamina and physical strength beyond what was even fathomed. In one case, she herself had witnessed this magic tapped in to, though it was onset by another enchantment. That lone stallion of that apple orchard. His younger sister had made a poison with her friends but had no idea what it would do. In the end, he ended up pulling a house from its foundations and carried it with ease. This, was the strength, and more, that they could achieve once the magic had taken hold.

Finally, the pegasi, had the most outwardly physical modifications. Stabilizers were attached to their wings and their very bones were strengthened with magic, becoming lighter, yet harder than those of grown dragons. Their hollow bones would no longer break so easily and their wing-strength and stamina were honed every day. The Wonderbolts themselves were flight trainers for them, but their air-shows had quickly changed to combat routines and from there, Commanders' Soarin and Spitfire quickly showed their abilities for new plans of attack and ruthless cunning, as well as their own charisma and how they applied it when pushing these young recruits beyond what they themselves could achieve.

Finally, she had even designed armour and weaponry for these war-ponies to use.

The pegasi were first, as they were the most lightly armoured, but their weaponry was the most advanced. A fullbody suit with light plates of enchanted metal covered vital spots while the rest was held together by leather, tanned from the hides of dragons. They were given multiple weapons that were built into this armour, the least of which were magical projectile throwers, using counter-forces to send small metal balls hurling at targets with such speed and accuracy, unaugmented eyes couldn't even begin to follow them. Explosives derived from natural compounds were also used in these small projectiles, and were especially effective against lightly armoured targets.

Every pegasi was allowed time to familiarize themselves with these weapons, while similar, yet less expensive and easier to produce models were made for the masses within her more traditional military. The pegasi of this special brigade, were allowed to request modifications and even suggest what they would prefer to use in combat. In many cases, it increased the individuals ponies' combat prowess that much more.

Next came the unicorns, who received robes that were woven of a magical velvet, called "Danbuvenin." This simple yet incredibly rare fabric greatly increased the abilities of those who wore it, and was very soothing to the touch. They were taught to use the feeling of the fabric against their own fur to block out all other sensations, so they could concentrate on only the spells they were casting, if the scale of it was large enough. Their own latent abilities themselves became more focused, and their combat effectiveness was greatly increased. Siege walls could be broken in minutes by a mere three or four of them, if coordinated properly and protected.

Over these robes, a second set of plates was donned, made from the same material as the pegasi's armour. Magical brass, that was harder than any unenchanted steel, and a third the weight. It was necessary in war-zones where these individuals were officers of entire units.

Their weaponry was as varied as they wished, each having many choices and the ability to suggest and request specific weapons or modifications. Being magic users, most preferred weapons made with at least some form of wood. Wood being a conductor for magic and in some cases, the wood itself had magical properties. It could be imbued with power by its wielder, containing any number and any kind of pre-cast spells. Along with these staves, many chose to take wooden hafted glaives or halberds, mastering their usage in melee combat, as well as wards and shielding spells.

Finally, her proudest achievement came forth to accept their war-gear. The Earth ponies had to wait longer for their gifts, but it was necessary. Creating their tools took time, as well as the recovery from their varying surgeries. They received many occular enhancements, along with the pegasi. Their muscles became more dense and was easier to pack on, as well as becoming more susceptible to better toning and greater bursts of strength and prolonged stamina. Finally, their hooves were coated in monomolecular steel, making them slightly heavier, and many times more deadly.

Their armour covered every inch of them, created from steel and covered in wards and decoration. The steel itself was heavy, but the armour was stronger than anything ever manufactured before. The dispersal of energy throughout it allowed them to take great blows and shrug them off as though the wind had blown a little harder at them. These heavy suits of armour being magically enchanted, helped the great stallions that wore it in their movement, making them as dexterous within their steel coating, as they would be without.

The lines and curves of the steel melded into great mosaics of beautiful craftsponyship. Gold filigree covered the shining silver suits, forming dragons and trees, and on their great helms, the crest of their Queen. These ponies knew no match in their abilities and combat prowess. Their weaponry was varied, but one thing remained constant. All of them had mastered their own wells of magic. For every day cycle that passed, they could tap this energy and gain great stamina, boosts of speed, the strength of titans, and the resolute will that came with their very nature. Yes, these few were great princes among the rank and file troops.

Great mauls and axes, warhammers and spiked armour, impenetrable and undaunted. These were Her greatest achievements.

All of this, she considered and pushed through her mind, letting her thoughts move freely in the great War-Chamber.

She was already training more.

Her Sun Guard.

One hundred and twelve Pegasi, eighty-seven Unicorns, and fifty-eight Earth, were ready and waiting to fight. For now though, she would keep them here, at home. She loved them all, and they loved her. She was their savior, their teacher, their very mother. All of them would die for her. Some of them would.

With them though, she would topple empires and raise her own, expanding across the Eternity's Crossing ocean, and over the Draconic Mountains.

Twilight would be brought to her and shown, she decided. Her student would learn to trust and love her again.

Yes, that's how it would start. Yes.

The mad queen's eyes smouldered with a dark black and green light as she gave the orders half-consciously to retrieve the young lavender unicorn. Yes, it would all work out in her favor.

Shining Armour was skeptical as to what to do next. His sister had evaded the guards sent to retrieve her, and he knew in his heart that he was happy she had run. If anypony could escape it would be her.