They couldn’t believe what they had seen. The entirety of their royal guards was slaughtered by someone who claimed to be their ally. Why did he do that? How could he do that?

“You monster!” Aren looked away from his nicely displayed corpses and looked at Celestia with a raised eyebrow.

“Monster? Here I go and train your guards, and you call me monster? I thought you wanted me to train them.” Celestias’ eyes widened.

“Train them? TRAIN THEM? You killed them!” She mostly screamed at him.

“Whoa whoa whoa, hold down your horses there, princess. This is all part of the training.” He clapped in his hands, and all the corpses began to get cracks along their torso. Another clap followed, and every corpse turned to ash. With another clap, all the ashes moved to one single spot and formed a giant pile of ash.

Yet another clap later, all the ash spread again and formed multiple small piles. With another clap, this one louder than the ones before, the piles began to shiver. Slowly, from every pile of ash, something began to rise out of it. After a while, it was possible to recognize what exactly was rising out of them. Pony souls flew out of the ashes and began to randomly fly around the training ground.

Aren raised his arms and moved them in a circular motion. The souls followed the motion and began flying in one giant circle. He moved his arms for around 10 more seconds and then stopped. After some seconds waiting he moved his arms to the sky and the souls began to follow the motion. Finally he slammed his hands into the ground and the souls impacted with the piles of ashes with a loud bang.

Where the piles of ashes laid, were now the guards. They stood there with a confused look on their faces. Celestia felt relieved. Her guards were alive again. The guards looked around, and all their gazes stopped at the still bloody Aren. All of them went as far away as possible, which was not tremendously far since there still was the wall around the training ground.

Aren clapped once again, but this time just for the reason to get their attention. “Alright, I think introductions are over. Now let’s get over to your scores.” Suddenly, writing was hovering in the air at one side of the training ground.

‘1. Purple Edge – Score: 2’

‘2. White Side – Score: 1’

‘2. Broad Anatomy – Score: 1’

‘2. Sprinkle Break – Score: 1’

…

‘3. Black Shield - Score: 0’

Most of the guards still were terrified. They saw the scoreboard and all of them had the same question on their mind. One pegasus-day-guard with a purple coat, an extremely long tail and abnormally long wings stepped forward and asked with a shivering voice.

“Per-Permission to-to ask a question-tion, high-general?” Aren raised an eyebrow.

“You can call me Aren and yes go ahead.” Aren turned to the other guards. “That also counts for the rest of you. You do not need to ask for my permission to talk to me. Just ask away.” He then turned to the purple guard. “So, what do you want to know?” The purple guard nervously shuffled around.

“I wanted to know why everyone is at second place while I am at first.” Aren looked over to the scoreboard.

“Well the reason why is that you were the first one to attack.” Then he turned around to the guards and sighed. ‘Why am I always so muddle-headed?’

“I better first explain the scores and why there are so many second places. Alright, listen up. What I did some minutes ago was testing your capabilities in fight. I fought with all of you in order to see how capable you are while being under severe fear for your life. The results were not very convincing.”

“The only thing you did was charge forward. No tactic, no battle skills. The only thing you did was charging and hoping that you hit me with your spears per chance. On top of that, you needed to be reminded multiple times to attack. The scores I gave every one of you just show how good you can fight. My scoreboard ranges from 0 to 100. 0 means that you haven’t even fought, and 100 means that you are one of the best fighters a mortal can be. Of course, nearly no one ever gets to 100 points.”

“The reason why Black Shield is the last place is just that he couldn’t fight with me since I needed one guard as a motivator to get the rest of you to attack. So if, I wouldn’t have needed a motivator, he would probably be on second place too. The reason why Purple Edge is at place 1 is solely based on the fact that he was the first to attack. Nothing else.”

The guards looked at the floor. It was obvious that they had no chance in hell to win against their opponent, but giving them 1 out of 100 points is just too degrading. The purple guard walked back to the other ones. A white unicorn walked forward.

“Permission to speak freely, sir?” Aren sighed.

“You also don’t need my permission to speak freely. Just talk like you are not on duty. It’s easier this way.” The guard nodded.

“Judged by your scoreboard, we are not even better than civilians. This can not be accurate. We are trained in combat and civilians not, so how can it be possible to say that we are equally capable in combat?”

“I am not judging your skill and knowledge about fight. I am judging you by what I have seen, and the only thing I saw was a bunch of scared ponies that fought like civilians. Blinded by fear and just out of instinct. You just fought like a normal civilian. I didn’t even need to use my magic, my legs and not even my weapon.”

“I even changed my fighting style to an animalistic one. So the only thing you did was fighting an unarmed animal with a full 90 man group of armed guards and you lost. So don’t you dare tell me anything about battle capabilities.” The white unicorn was enraged. His pride was just too big to accept what he has just been told.

“Sir, I can not acc-“ He got interrupted by a thick lightning bolt that transformed his body into ash. The other guards moved back by the sudden burst of energy that came out of the humans’ hand. Aren turned to the guards.

“That’s what happens if someone starts to complain to me. You can give criticism, and you can ask me about the training, but I do not want to hear complaining just because you’re butt hurt understood?” The guards hastily nodded, not wanting to receive the fury of their trainer.

Aren flicked with his fingers and the dead guard suddenly lived again. “The next thing is information for all of you, including the princesses. It is impossible to stay dead in here. I build some kind of shield around the training grounds and everyone that dies in here will be automatically resurrected after 15 minutes. I just decided to make it myself, to speed things up a little.”

“That said, I will now open the barrier so you can go out and in again. Training will commence in two hours. I will say it again. You do not have to participate in my training if you do not want to. If you don’t want to, just don’t come back here again. There will be no consequences for guards that don’t want to participate, but remember those of you that manage to go through my training will far outclass any warrior you have ever seen on this world. Dismissed.”

Aren turned around and began walking to the castle. Celestia quickly followed him.

“AREN! I need to talk to you. NOW!” He turned around.

“Yes?” Celestia gritted her teeth.

“How can you be so barbaric to my guards? They did not deserve this, this, bestiality.” Aren sighed.

“Listen, when you want to train soldiers as hard as possible, and you don’t have a medic, then you let them spar and tell them what they did wrong. If you have a medic, you let them duel, heal them and then tell them what they did wrong. And if you have the ability to resurrect them, you let them fight to the death, resurrect them and tell them what they did wrong. It’s just logical.”

“Yes, but that does not explain your brutal ways.” Aren shook his head.

“That was necessary. First, I was a stranger in their eyes and deep down nearly every one of them thought ‘yeah just talk. We don’t need your training’. I had to SHOW them how badly they needed. All the talking in the world wouldn’t have convinced them.”

“Second, I needed them to go into a state of panic so I could test how good they are trained. Very well trained soldiers have the battle-movements implemented in their subconscious, so even if they can’t think clearly, they still move like they were trained to. This was not the case with your guards, but I wasn’t expecting that since your world is peaceful.”

“Third, I needed to test their motivation to continue on with my training. I don’t want any guards falling out in the middle of training. So I showed them now what they can expect of it. Those who can’t handle the little death I have sown wouldn’t be able to become first-grade soldiers in any way.”

“Fourth, I needed to let them experience severe fear so that when they fight for their lives later on, they will be able to control themselves since they experienced worse fear once. As you see, I have my reasons.” Celestia sighed.

“But was this really necessary? Did it need to be that brutal?” Aren now sighed too.

“Do you want me to train your guards or not?” Celestia looked him into the eyes.

“If it means that you continue being that sadistic to them, then no.” Aren shrugged.

“Alright, they are your guards. If you don’t want me to train them, then I won’t. Have it your way.” Celestia made a double-turn.

“Wait. You didn’t complain about it? You didn’t say anything against it?” Aren turned around, moved to Celestia and looked her deep into the eyes.

“Now it would be very smart of you to pay attention to what I say. I do not need to help you. I can leave this world whenever I want. I offer you five years of my life to train you and your guards and if you do not want them, then I see no reason in trying to convince you.” He turned away from Celestia. “Now if you’ll excuse me, it seems like I am not needed here.”

He flicked with his hand.

“No, Wait-“, but he was already gone. She couldn’t believe what just happened. The greatest hope of winning this war vanished. Celestia looked at the ground. ‘No this was the right decision. No one deserves to get killed. Even if it is just for training purpose. We just need to train them ourselves.’

Celestia walked back to her cushion in front of the training ground and waited for the guards to return so she can tell them that the human won’t train them anymore. She waited nearly two hours. The first guards began to come back to the training area. Then even more came. Celestia could not believe her eyes. On the training grounds were now 74 guards. She thought that maybe a maximum of 10 would want to continue this barbaric training.

Nonetheless, she stood up from her cushion and clopped on the floor to get every guards attention.

“My royal guards, I am very sorry about what happened. I did not know to what extend high-general Aren would go. Rest assured, I have sent high-general Aren away for what he did today. I can not apologize enough, for what he did to you, but I, at least, can grant you one week of leave so you can recover from the ordeal that transpired today.”

The guards moved nervously around. They weren’t cheering in happiness, and they also were not sighing in relief like Celestia predicted. Celestia just looked at them and didn’t know what the matte was. Then one of the guards, the one called Purple Edge, walked to the front of the guards.

“Princess, am I allowed to talk freely?” Princess Celestia nodded.

“Go ahead.” The guard sighed.

“I think I speak for everypony present here when I say that we deeply regret the leave of high-general Aren.” Celestia looked confused. “We wanted to continue our training under him and looked forward to it. It’s a shame that he needed to be sent away.” Celestia looked baffled at the remaining guards.

“Is that true?” the guards nodded. She couldn’t understand it. How could they even consider continuing this barbaric training, but nonetheless they wanted to continue. She regained her composure.

“Why, my dear guards, would you want to continue with this training?” Purple Edge looked sadly in her eyes.

“Because we need it, your majesty.” He stopped for a second but continued. “All of us realized just how much more we have to learn in order to be the best guards possible. I wouldn’t be able to look at myself in the mirror when I know that I didn’t do my best. That’s why I want to continue my training under him. So that I will be able to be the best guard I possibly can.” He saluted and the rest of the guards followed.

Then she realized it. He did not force them into the training. He told them everyone beforehand that they will die, and they did not leave. He also reminded them multiple times that they are not entitled to participate in his training. They weren’t the helpless ponies, Celestia thought they were. She didn’t need to stand up for them because they were perfectly capable of standing up themselves.

‘And because I could not let my guards handle themselves, I drove away our best hope in winning this war. How could I forget the reason why I have guards? They are here so they can protect the ponies and me, not the other way around.’

“Are you sure you don’t want to let them continue their training?” A voice to her right exclaimed. She turned her head to the side and spotted Aren leaning against a wall. She wanted to tell him that she was sorry, but she couldn’t look weak in front of her subjects.

“Would you still consider training my guards?” He smirked.

“Only if they want to.” He looked over to the guards whom all saluted before him and sighed. He began to laugh. “Seems like I’ve got my work cut out for me. To the training grounds with you!” They nodded and began walking. Before he could follow, he got stopped by Celestia. She looked at him.

“Listen Aren, I am so-“

“You don’t have to be. It was also my fault. I often forget that you are still very young since you act so motherly around everyone. I am sorry for that.” He smiled warmly and wanted to walk away, but got stopped again. “What is it?”

“I also wanted to tell you something else. Thank you for helping out Equestria. I know that you don’t have to and that you can always leave. That’s why I am so thankful.” He waved a hand dismissively.

“Don’t sweat it. Now I really need to go. The guards are waiting.” He jumped away and landed in the middle of the training grounds. “Alright listen up, the key to holding your composure is to…” He continued talking to the guards while Celestia talked to someone else.

“How can you let him stay in Equestira after what he did? He should rot in the dungeons for what he did.” Luna exclaimed angrily whereupon Celestia sighed.

“Luna, we can’t decide for our subjects how they live their life. He never forced them into training. They can always stop. They are all old enough to decide for their own.” Luna just shook her head.

“That does not justify the way he trains them. They are driven by their duty to participate in that. They can’t think clearly. You need to stop this!” Luna had a point. They only did go through this, because of their honor and jobs. Should she stop the training? But her guards all wanted it.

“On top of that,” Luna continued, “let’s think realistically about this. What can some mortal guards achieve against an evil god, like Oran.” She was right. What point was it to train them? Oran could wipe them out in mere seconds, but she still didn’t want to abort the training.

“Luna, how about we wait until he is finished today and then we talk to him, alright?” Luna didn’t look satisfied but nodded. They waited several hours and watched the training. It had a clear course. He ordered them to attack. Then he slaughtered every one of them. Revived them and then told them what they could do better. After that, one hour of training followed, where everyone focused on erasing their mistakes in battle. After the hour training, the cycle began anew. In total, three cycles were made until he ended training.

When the guards began to disperse, Celestia called Aren over. He complied. “Is something the matter?”

“Yes, my sister an-“ She got interrupted by an angry Luna.

“How DARE you kill our guards in that manner?” Aren slightly taken aback by the sudden outburst sighed.

“Luna, I nee-“

“That’s princess Luna for you.” Oh, now it’s on.

“Oh, we are playing that game? Well two can participate in that.” He performed a very elegant looking bow. “If I may be allowed to introduce myself with my full title. I am centurion, general, champion of Nidgar, champion of Rifnork, champion of Rotburg, Champion of Narzur,” He began naming all the titles he had earned himself, while adventuring through the multiverse. It needed nearly five full minutes for him to come to his name. “monch, professor professor professor doctor doctor doctor Wilhelm Adrian Quintus Aren, king of Artifica, Mohlba, Thronburg, Silva, Wondra and Brulga. Pleased to make your acquaintance princess Luna of Equestria.”

Luna was taken aback by the sheer amount of titles Aren earned and sighed in defeat.

“Alright if it must be, you can call me Luna, but now.” The angry frown reappeared again. “How dare you handle our guards in that manner?”

“Well princess Luna, I trained the guards to my best abilities. Is there something to your disliking, princess Luna of Equestria?” He asked in a VERY polite and cold manner.

“Something to my disliking? You killed our guards!”

“And I resurrected them after that, so where lay the problem, princess Luna of Equestria?” Luna groaned.

“The problem is that you killed them in the first place. Witnessing a death can have severe consequences for the mind.” Aren gestured to some guards who still were on the training ground, training on their own accord.

“Do these guards look like traumatized ponies?” Luna shook her head violently.

“No, but that has nothing to do with what I meant. Killing is wrong.” Aren raised an eyebrow.

“Says who?” Luna was taken aback a little.

“Law.”

“So you mean yourself.” Luna looked confused.

“You, princess Luna of Equestria, and Celestia are the rulers of the land and, therefore, you made the rules. So you want me to stop, just because you said so. Don’t start talking like that.”

“But the possible damage-“

“Is possible, but not real. Look at your guards! The possibility is there, that they get mentally scared by this, but they are not. Do you punish your servants when they lose their balance and throw the tray with tea on the floor, because of the POSSIBILITY that someone could slip on the tray and break its’ neck? The fact remains that there IS no damage done.” Luna shook her head again and looked back into his eyes.

“You can not guarantee that!”

“No, I can not, but I can assure you that this is not my first time, training some guards. I’ve wasted more time teaching, than you living.”

“How dare you talking down to me like I am just a filly.”

“Because you are just a filly!” Luna gasped. “You are here in this world, separated from the big mean multiverse out there, and rule over it. You don’t have any experience about what lurks out there. You never were there and never saw how other worlds handle their soldiers. Trust me when I say that I am very reserved in terms of brutality here.”

Luna began grinding with her teeth. Celestia walked between the two.

“Now now. I think we should restrain ourselves or this might get out of hoof.” She smiled warmly.

“NO! I wanted to say this for a time now. I can not stand for him running around and doing as if he is better than us. We ruled this land for many generations, and suddenly he comes and tells us that we are nothing compared to the rest of the multiverse. I will not stand for this.” Celestia placed a hoof on Lunas’ shoulder.

“Luna, please…” She threw the hoof away.

“NO! NO ‘Luna please’. I have enough of that! If you don’t do anything about him, then I will.” She began focusing all her power into her horn. Celestia realized what she had planned.

“NO LUNA! DON’T!” Too late. Luna released the purple beam of pure magical energy on Aren. Aren didn’t waste any time and began to let his right hand glow in a warm orange and held his hand right against the beam. When the beam made contact with his arm, it began to vanish. After Luna poured all her anger into the beam, she slowly stopped and looked to Aren.

“How do you like that?” She exclaimed while looking at him. Aren just stood there with a purple flame hovering over his opened hand. Luna couldn’t believe it. He didn’t even have a scratch on him. She gritted her teeth.

“Look at you. Firing a beam of pure magical energy and expecting it to damage anyone. You could have poured enough into that beam to destroy a whole galaxy, and it would still not change a single thing. See that purple flame in my hand? That is your beam. I molded it into a new form, and now it’s mine. You would have known that if you knew at least something about magical combat. I could teach you about such stuff, and we would stand a way bigger chance against Oran, but your stubbornness makes this impossible.”

“If I would comply with you and stop training the guards, we would stand no chance against Oran. And the reason for me not being able to do it? Your stubbornness.” He turned around and slowly walked to the castle gate. Before he went in it, he looked back to Luna and said one last thing.

“In the end, you are just a kid.”

Author's Note

Yep, hope you liked it.

Just a sidenote. i'm back to working at the 01.02.13, so the updates won't be as frequently as before.