Brother's Lament

Chapter 1: The longest day of the thousandth year

The gentle light from the sun played over the Canterlot gardens, a group of unicorn college students walked with their lecturer through the gardens stopping to answer questions and learn about the purpose of several different statues (leaving out the statue known as ‘chaos’ of course) Making a stop next to a statue of an elderly looking unicorn, with a long beard and wearing a pointy hat with an engraved star pattern across it.

“Now, which one of you can tell me about this stallion?”

Asked the lecturer as she looked over the many hooves rising to answer her question

“Yes Moonstar?”

“That is Starswirl the bearded, known as one of the most powerful unicorns in history, creator of many spells and magical inventions, including the creation of the Airships, particularly in a power source and design of the engines”

The unicorn mare answered.

“Excellent, in fact it is said he is the proprietor of many advanced spells and that he even once had a hoof in the defeat of an ancient evil.”

The lecturer answered before a unicorn stallion attracted her attention with a raised hoof.

“What about the statue over there?”

he asked as he pointed a hoof towards a lone statue some distance off from the Starswirl statue, it depicted a tall unicorn stallion, clad from head to hoof in plate armour with sharp eyes glaring out of the view slits of the helmet and in a heroic stance, near his hind legs a stone sabre was sheathed, a single word was etched on a golden plaque at the base of the statue ‘Duty’

“I’m afraid I do not know about that one. Perhaps it was made by an artist many years ago to symbolise a sense of duty, perhaps it was made in the likeliness of a pony who was important at one stage. He must have been as tall as Princess Celestia!”

The lecturer exclaimed before she moved the tour along moving to other statues.

What they failed to notice was a white alicorn, gently walking some distance behind them; she made her way towards the Duty statue, her sunburst cutie mark plainly seen in the sunlight, her mane flowing in an ethereal wind with different colours her man the colour of a rainbow.

She seemed troubled and almost reluctant as if she was going to make a hard decision, running a hoof over the chest of the stallion statue gently.

Celestia’s eyes which were regal and calm seemed to tear up and become tender as she looked the statue over, fond memories of the stallion flooding back to her.

She had sent her student out to Ponyville in preparation for her sister’s return, but if her student was to fail with the elements of harmony, she would have to step in herself and she knew she would need the stallion’s help to defeat her sister once more.

She regained her composure and took a few steps back, golden magic enveloping her horn as it transferred over to the statue, cracks beginning to form as the stone being shook, light shining through the cracks before a loud electrical discharge exploded from the statue, dust covering the area, making it hard to see.

Suddenly the dust swirled and dissipated as the armoured unicorn stood before the Princess, his armour shone a light purple almost a violet in the sunlight, grey eyes glowing through the eye slits, the royal Canterlot voice booming from within the metal dreadnought.

“WHO HATH AWAKENED ME FROM MY SLUMBER? WHO CALLS UPON WARSONG?”

The white Alicorn smiled and rolled her eyes before looking directly at the unicorn warrior.

“Enough of the acting Warsong you and I need to talk, but not here, come with me.”

She said before she turned, heading towards the exit of the gardens.

Warsong followed closely behind her just as the Unicorns from previously galloped to the source of all the commotion.

“Oh Princess Celestia, we heard loud noises.”

Said the lecturer mare as herself and her students bowed before the Princess.

“It is nothing to worry about.”

Replied the Princess with a friendly smile as she left.

The unicorn students lifted their heads slightly to look up at the tall unicorn as he walked by, his sharp grey eyes staring down at them, sending shivers down their spines. When they noticed the statue suddenly missing, many turned to glance back at the leaving unicorn.

***

Celestia took Warsong up towards the Royal Canterlot library explaining to him in a broad perspective on the events that took place after his petrification.

“I awoke you because my sister is returning, I have my faithful student Twilight Sparkle heading to a town known as Ponyville as we speak to ‘overlook’ the preparations for the summer sun celebration. But in truth she'll be gathering to her the ponies that exhibit the elements of harmony. I have faith that she will defeat my sister with the elements…But should she fail…”

Celestia explained, trailing off near the end.

“Ye will need me to assist in thy battle; verily I may ask my lady, why are we going to thy library?”

He asked, his voice sounding metallic through the helmet, the armour clinking and clacking as he moved, drawing the eye of every royal guard and servant as they walked by.

“So that you may read and catch up on your history, perhaps even learn to speak the modern tongue rather than the ancient dialect, you have been asleep for a thousand years after all.”

She replied as Warsong stopped in his steps.

“A thousand years? By the Goddess…”

He whispered as they walked into the Royal library many books lined the shelves as he looked at some of the titles, red magic surrounding a few history books which floated out and were placed on the table, some more books were surrounded in golden magic.

“Here are some I recommend as well, please be prepared for when night-fall comes…”

Spoke the Princess of the sun.

Warsong nodded to her, his horn glowing red once more as the armour shone and receded over his body to form into four golden bands with green jewels adorning them clipped onto his legs, revealing himself for the first time in a thousand years.

He had a handsome face with grey eyes and a white mane that flowed down his neck, his tail was the same colour as his mane while his coat was in stark contrast to the rest of his body being the colour of a deep red, the cutie mark on his flank seemed to be that of an ancient symbol in the shape of a shield.

Celestia looked the ancient warrior over and a smile came to her muzzle.

“You look as handsome as ever Warsong….”

she spoke, her eyes running over his cutie mark before she turned to leave.

“Come to my private chambers at night-fall, we'll stand ready to step in if we are needed.”

And with that she left Warsong to study.