Chapter1

Twilight awoke and rubbed her head with her hoof; she didn’t know where she was besides the fact that it was very, very dark. Twilight looked back through her memory and the only thing she could remember was exploring a castle and falling, lots of falling. She looked around in hopes of understanding her surroundings but she just couldn’t see anything, then she remembered the other magic lantern she’d brought with her. Twilight facehoofed at her own forgetfulness before she pulled the magic lantern out of her saddlebags and activated the spell with a small effort of will. The lantern sprang to life and sent out a small radius of blue light around Twilight. She had enough time to take in the fact that the walls of the room were dark gray before she heard the clanking sound of heavy footsteps.

Thinking quickly Twilight pulled her machete out of its sheath and held it unsteadily in front of her in her magic preparing to use it if necessary. The footsteps drew closer as did the sound of the clanking Twilight prepared herself to face whatever it was in combat trying to remember half learned combat spells. After another minute of waiting a new light source appeared, this one casting a yellow glow. The light was being emitted by a lantern being held by a large silver armored unicorn Twilight could see red fur covering his face; at his hip was a long sword.

The armor reminded Twilight somewhat of that worn by Luna’s night guards Saber and Arrow, but it was much less ceremonial and had significantly less points and fewer sharp angles. Now that she thought about it the armor reminded her of the ancient knight’s armor that she’d seen at one of the museums in Canterlot but it looked much more advanced. Obscuring his mane and most of his face was a dull silver helmet. Emblazoned on the Knight’s chest was a large emblem that showed a broadsword piercing the ground with a shield towering in the background. The unicorn’s face was set in a slightly puzzled expression. His brown eyes flicked over her making small calculations after a few seconds he grunted to himself.

Suddenly the unicorn grabbed her machete away from her with a powerful magical pull. Twilight had been taken extremely off guard by the action and was left slack jawed; nopony had ever managed to break her grip on something besides Celestia. The armored unicorn inspected the weapon before him with obvious contempt, before he shrugged and passed it back to Twilight who accepted it awkwardly. Then the unicorn beckoned her with a hoof, Twilight looked at him to make sure she understood his meaning, the unicorn sighed and waved her foreword with his hoof. Seeing no alternative besides starving to death Twilight followed the armored unicorn.

“So what’s your name?” Twilight asked curiously, instead of answering her, the unicorn opened his mouth and showed her that to her horror the unicorn’s tongue had been cut out. “You poor stallion, I’m so sorry.” Twilight whispered the stallion shrugged apparently long resigned to his fate. “What should I call you?” Twilight asked before her brain remembered that her companion couldn’t talk. “Sorry I’m still kinda out of it.” Twilight said giving a nervous chuckle, again the unicorn shrugged before he stopped and tapped one of the stones of the wall. “Your name is Stone?” Twilight asked the unicorn, who half nodded but moved his hoof in a go on gesture and ran his hoof over the wall. “Oh your name is Stonewall?” Twilight asked and received empathetic nodding. “I’m Twilight and it’s a pleasure to meet you Stonewall.” Twilight said extending her hoof hesitantly. Stonewall looked at it for a second before giving it a firm shake.

The formalities over they continued down the corridor in silence. Twilight had no idea where they were but she noticed that the surrounding walls were crumbling and the floor was in bad condition. Suddenly Stonewall forced her up against a wall with enough force to stun her slightly, she was about to retaliate when she noticed the newly dead manticore lying in the middle of the hallway. Its bloody head rolled to a stop several feet in front of it while Stonewall cleaned his sword on its pelt. Twilight gagged and fell against the wall feeling lightheaded as she smelled the blood; she’d never seen something killed before. Stonewall came over and steadied her and making sure that she could balance properly before setting off down the hall with her walking slowly next to him.

“Did you have to kill it?” Twilight asked him quietly, Stonewall grunted and shrugged as he walked leaving Twilight to wonder whether he was really that apathetic about the manticore that he’d just killed. They spent the rest of an hour long walk in complete silence, then natural light began to penetrate the darkness causing Stonewall and Twilight flick off their lanterns. They walked out of a crumbling entrance and Twilight found herself looking out over a completely new sight. The castle from her memory could still be seen, but it was obscured by dense plant growth and was generally crumbling to dust. Twilight was shocked out of her observations by the sudden sound of approaching hooves hitting the cobblestone courtyard. She looked up to see another silver armored unicorn approaching her with a large war hammer attached to his hip. His coat was light blue but like Stonewall his mane was obscured by a helmet.

“Well I see you found somepony down there Stonewall, a real pretty mare to.” The newcomer said Twilight felt a chill travel up and down her spine when he said it as a new terrifying possibility presented itself. “Relax darling we’re going to take you back to your village and make sure that you’re ok, geez Stonewall you’d think I threatened to rape her or something.” The newcomer said to Stonewall who grunted neutrally. Twilight sighed with relief, these ponies were just a new branch of the Equestrian army that she was unfamiliar with. “Now, who are you and where are you from?” The new stallion asked her obvious concern in his voice.

“I’m Twilight Sparkle from Ponyville.” Twilight said finding her voice; the new stallion looked at her funny.

“Well I’m Stronghoof, but I’ve got to tell you Miss I’ve been all over the Empire and never heard of a town called Ponyville, would you mind being more specific?” He asked her, ok now that was weird.

“Umm…It’s eight hours from Canterlot.” Twilight replied Stronghoof gave her the same funny look as before.

“Look Miss I need to get you out of this forest before nightfall, and I would really appreciate it if you would tell me the truth and stop making up cities and towns that don’t exist.” Stronghoof was starting to get annoyed with this mare.

“I’m sorry I honestly don’t know what you’re talking about. How can you not know where Canterlot is, it’s the seat of Princess Celestia’s power?” Twilight asked him getting an even stranger look then before.

“There is no Princess Celestia, or at least not that I’ve ever heard of, you must be thinking of Empress Cosmosmia.” Now Stronghoof was starting to get angry, how could any pony be so stupid? He was about to ask the dimwitted mare that when his partner shook his head sharply. The purple mare was looking at him with utter horror playing over her face.

“No Celestia… what do you mean by no Celestia? It’s not like she could just die…I mean she’s the goddess of the sun! Where am I?” Twilight cried out in confused terror.

“You’re currently in an abandoned castle in the middle of Everlost forest, which is part of the Great Empire of Stallionda.” Stronghoof told her firmly “You seem very confused, what do you think Stonewall?” Stronghoof asked his partner, Stonewall pointed up. “That’s what I was thinking to…” He turned back to the distraught mare. “…We’re going to take you to see our superior; at the very least she may know about this ‘Ponyville’ that you were talking about.” Stronghoof continued gesturing off behind him with an errant hoof. Twilight nodded slowly seeing no better option available. The three of them set off at a rapid pace which surprised Twilight. Everfree was dangerous at night but not dangerous enough to make two well armed soldiers rush their way through it.

“Why are we moving so fast?” Twilight asked sometime after darkness fell.

“We’re moving so fast because I personally prefer not being attacked by any of the creatures that live in this Cosmosmia damned forest...” Stronghoof replied exasperatedly as he pushed a branch out of his face. “…And it looks like we didn’t get out in time…” Stronghoof trailed off unexpectedly as they the clearing came into view, staring at them was a group of five creatures unlike any Twilight had ever seen.

From what Twilight could see the creatures had three heads, one of a mighty lion, the other of a goat, wrapping around their bodies were tails that were topped with what appeared to be the head of a snake. Their eyes glowed red with a demonic light that cut through the darkest shadows around them. The fur that covered them was a glinting gold that reflected evilly in soft moonlight. To make things worse they towered over the three ponies standing at least twelve feet tall on all four feet. Stonewall drew his sword and forcefully pressed Twilight behind him, Stronghoof unshackled his hammer from the strap at his hip and stood imposingly in the path of the creatures.

“These are chimera, they are poisonous, please stay out of our way.” Stronghoof told her out of the side of his mouth, Twilight nodded and drew her machete which seemed even more insignificant compared to the weapons of her allies. At the sound of his voice one of the chimera roared out a challenge, Stronghoof readied his hammer and prepared to meet the beast. “Come here fluffy, I just want to introduce you to a friend of mine.” Stronghoof taunted, the chimera must have heard him because it chose that exact moment to charge. The great beast leapt forward with another ferocious roar and Stronghoof’s hammer swung up to clock the beast in the jaw. There was a small splatter of blood as the hammer connected but the chimera remained undeterred in its charge.

The hammer swung down again this time impacting against the goat head which bleated a challenge. The chimera closed the distance and was about to gore Stronghoof with one set of its sharp claws when Stonewall brought his sword swinging upward in a sharp arc that culminated with the blade cutting deeply into the fur of the lion head. The lion head roared in fury and swept out its claws in pain hoping to accidentally hitting one of the creatures that had caused it pain. Stronghoof jumped backwards out of swiping before he once again brought his hammer down to impact across the monster’s goat head. His blow caused a large broken area to appear on the side of the monster’s head as the hammer pulverized through the fur and bone but somehow the beast was still alive. The monster swayed on its feet but continued foreword the lion head growled menacingly but the goat head remained silent apparently dead.

“I hate these things.” Stronghoof murmured “the only reason that we’re alive right now is that they only attack one at a time.” He continued as he looked at the blood stained beast. Twilight’s brain was having trouble processing everything that she was seeing and hearing. It could have been the stress of being in a new world, or it could be the fact that there were two ponies fighting to protect her from a monster that would literally rip her apart. The chimera changed tactics, instead of attacking the two knights it leapt over them and landed behind Twilight who was armed with only her small machete. Twilight’s mind stopped, it just stopped, her subconscious took over and before she knew what she was doing the spell was cast. The chimera was sent reeling by the large unexpected blast of fire that drilled its way through the creature’s chest.

The chimera mewled once piteously before its eyes darkened and the body hit the ground with a resounding thump. Stronghoof and Stonewall exchanged glances. This Twilight was no simple mare she was a war mage, and a powerful one at that. Twilight turned to stare at the other chimera, her eyes were glowing purple and her horn was sparking and flaring with magical energy that begged to be released, to both of the soldiers’ great surprise the unicorn let out a wild growl. The chimera turned to look at each other before they took off wildly into the night, when they were gone Twilight’s eyes stopped glowing and she stumbled foreword as her mind once again took control of her body.

“Well that was unexpected…” Stronghoof said dryly as he and Stonewall went forward to steady the purple unicorn.

“What did I just do?” Twilight asked slowly looking around as if she was coming out of a daze.

“You just unleashed one of the strongest fire spells that I’ve ever seen before directly into the chest of a chimera.” Stronghoof told her pointing at the large corpse, Twilight turned to look at it in revolted curiosity.

The body was blackened and burnt with a large cylindrical hole drilled through its chest from what Twilight could see several of its ribs had been cut in half and the smell of cooked meat permeated throughout the air; Twilight turned to the side and unceremoniously puked her breakfast all over the forest floor. Stonewall waited long enough for her to recover before he scooped her up and placed her gently on his back, she didn’t object and was soon snoring softly as he and his companion walked through the silent forest. “So what’re we going to do with her?” Stronghoof asked as he glanced back at their sleeping companion. Stonewall shrugged and grunted something. “Well I don’t see anywhere else she could go, especially considering that we’re oath bound to report the truth in all of its forms. The commander is going to love this, and I’m sure she’ll learn to love it here.” Stronghoof said, Stonewall grunted absently.

***
Twilight jerked awake suddenly her vision swam for a few seconds before the world righted itself. From what Twilight could tell she was in a tent of some kind, she lay on what felt like a military cot and as she looked around she noticed ponies who were obviously doctors and nurses doing rounds. When a doctor noticed that she was awake he ambled over to her with a chart held magically before him, he was a yellow unicorn with a short well kept blue mane.

“Hmm…Twilight Sparkle, I can’t say that I’ve ever heard of that last name before but that doesn’t really matter, I’m Dr. Ginger Root by the way.” The Dr. said extending his hoof down for Twilight to shake. “Let’s see, you were brought in last night suffering from extreme magic exhaustion that resulted from you shooting a foot wide beam of fire through the chest of a chimera, an impressive feat even for medium level war mages. Couple that with the extreme stress brought upon whatever event led you to be in the Hanari ruins and I’m surprised that you are up so early.” Ginger Root told her with an encouraging smile.

“Sir, do you happen to know where Stonewall and Stronghoof are? They’re the only ones that I know here.” Twilight asked the Dr. who smiled at her friendlily.

“They’re still debriefing, I’m sure they’ll be along shortly. In the meantime I’ll have some soup and water brought to you.” Ginger Root said before he turned away and started on his rounds again. Twilight returned to scanning the room, she wasn’t the only one occupying a cot, but she was the only one who wasn’t bleeding. Twilight shivered as thoughts of the dead manticore and the chimera rushed back causing her to feel slightly sick again.

Luckily once the soup arrived her stomach took over and after thanking the nurse, who also gave her a glass of water, Twilight dug in to the food with a surprising amount of energy. The soup was tasty and Twilight identified several familiar vegetables floating within. The water tasted a little different but it went down easily and by the end of her small meal Twilight felt ready to take on the world. Dr. Ginger Root approached her again once he saw that she was done her meal.
“You’re feeling better after that soup I see.” The Dr. said with a grin on his face.

“Much, Dr. if you don’t mind could I ask you some questions?” Twilight asked him, the Dr. scratched his chin pretending to think it.

“I don’t see why not, as long as you don’t ask for my one weakness I don’t think it’ll mater.” He replied with a smile.

“Well I’m from another world, I think. Actually I’m not really sure at this point, but the point is I have no idea where I am, or for that matter who I’m with. So I was wondering if you wouldn’t mind filling me in on those details.” Twilight told him.

“Of course, I’m not sure if you’re actually from another world, but I wouldn’t mind filling you in on some things. What do you really want to know?” Ginger Root asked her, Twilight found herself wondering at what she should ask first.

“Alright I know…” She said coming to a decision. “…Where am I, and who am I with?” Twilight asked him.

“At the moment you’re at deployment station Alpha four. As to who you’re with, you’re currently surrounded by the fourth Stallionda army.” The Ginger Root told her “We’re the best army but don’t let the others here you say it.” Ginger Root said with a grin and a wink, Twilight found that she was starting to really like this pony.

“I have another question.” Twilight said.

“Go ahead; I’ll answer next to anything.” Ginger Root told her.

“Why were Stonewall and Stronghoof in those ruins in the first place?” Twilight asked him.

“Routine sweep, the Empress gives orders to all the armies to go through those ruins incase some idiot foal wanders in to see what’s inside and then gets lost. Not that I think you’re an idiot foal.” The Doctor told her with a slight grin, Twilight shrugged.

“To tell you the truth I feel like one, I disregarded my friend’s advice and went into them alone, and then I fell so here I am.” Twilight said a little darkly turning her head down to look at her hooves. Ginger Root was one of those old fashioned stallions who couldn’t bear to see a mare feeling bad so he put his hoof on her shoulder.

“Look at it this way Twilight, if you hadn’t gone into those ruins then my day would have been a lot darker and I’d be busy sewing up some poor soldier who most likely wouldn’t see tomorrow no matter what I did. Instead here I am talking to an intelligent mare who has no business feeling bad about herself.” Ginger Root told her shocking Twilight with his sincerity.

“Thank you Dr., how did you know what to say?” Twilight asked him as a small load came off her chest.

“All Stallionda Drs. and nurses are required to take a few years of psychology before we graduate, and in my case I can’t take seeing a mare down in the dumps.” Ginger Root told her “Now unless you have any more burning questions I should probably get back to sewing up the soldiers.” Ginger Root said with a hint of regret, before Twilight could think of anything to say Stronghoof and Stonewall arrived. Ginger Root nodded to them and gave Twilight a smile before wandering off. Stonewall smiled slightly and nodded to Twilight obviously happy that she was better.

“Hey there Twilight how’re you feeling?” Stronghoof asked her kindly.

“I’m good now, I think.” Twilight answered a little unsteadily, Stronghoof nodded.

“Then it’s time for you to meet with our commander, I think you’ll like her she’s a good pony.” Stronghoof told Twilight who nodded and began to rise from the cot; she found herself wobbling uncertainly for a few seconds before she found her balance. She followed the two soldiers out of the tent and into a whole new world. Twilight was standing outside one tent out of what must have been several thousand. All around her ponies in silver armor walked or flew all heading in their own direction with the air of an efficient army, which Twilight assumed was natural. Oddly enough other soldiers quickly moved out of their way as if by some silent signal, most of them did anyways… Twilight had to duck under a low flying pegasus who came barreling through the ranks of soldiers with reckless abandon.

“Who was that?” Twilight asked as they continued on.

“That was Deadeye, she’s one of the best archers in the army but she has some trouble seeing things right, oh and she loves muffins.” Stronghoof told her, Twilight was struck by the sudden similarity to a certain mailmare.

“Really now, is that why they call her Deadeye?” Twilight asked Stronghoof feeling like she already knew the answer.

“No, well it used to be because the eye was slightly off kilter besides just being our best shot with a bow. Then she got the eye stabbed out throwing the commander out of the way of an incoming assassin’s knife.” Stronghoof replied easily Twilight winced; this place was definitely not Equestria. Her companions steered Twilight towards an imposing tent with the same sword and shield symbol on it that was displayed on Stonewall and Stronghoof’s armor. Stonewall knocked on the tent flap and was answered by a level female voice.

“Come in.” The voice told them. They entered the tent and the first thing that Twilight noticed was the unicorn mare sitting behind a desk. Her coat was black with occasional splotches of grey intermixing in interesting swirling patterns; her cutie mark was made up of a group of eight stars surrounded by lightning which seemed to flicker ominously. Her mane was cut surprisingly short and only fell around two inches down the back of her neck. She wore a red coat which seemed to be made of what looked like some kind of leather, interspaced along the coat over vital areas were what looked to be dragon scales. The mare directed Twilight to a chair in front of the desk and Twilight accepted the offered seat.

The mare’s blue eyes shinned with bright intelligence as they looked out at Twilight from the middle-aged face of a mare who had obviously seen many fights in her life. Scars crisscrossed her right cheek and one ran along her jaw line, the scars had healed nicely and had obviously been carefully cleaned and well cared for. The pearly white horn that emerged from her forehead was long and had been sharpened to a very definite point that Twilight could almost feel plunging into her skin just by looking at it. As she assessed the pony behind the table Twilight had the weary feeling that the pony was doing the same thing to her, and judging from the slight nod that the pony gave as she ran her eyes over Twilight she liked what she saw.

“Miss Sparkle my name is Commander Starshock, but please address me as Commander Star. As you have probably figured out by now you are in a new world, we aren’t sure which world you’re from but I regret to inform you that you are not permitted to go back.” Commander Star told her firmly but gently and waited for the inevitable reaction.

“You can’t do that! I have to get back, without me who will look after Spike? What will my friends think?” Twilight asked her in confusion, and then her voice hardened. “Why can’t I leave, and do you really think you could stop me if you wanted to?” Twilight asked, her voice was filled with quite menace by the end. Commander Star rolled her eyes clearly not impressed by the purple unicorn.

“Miss Sparkle there is a very good reason that Empress Cosmosmia has established this rule which I will relate to you soon, but I would like you to enlighten me on as to how you expect to fight your way through our army alone. Not to mention the other nineteen along with our god empress who can reshape parts reality with a single thought and shatter mountains as if they were made of dust.” Commander Star deadpanned, Twilight was stunned.

“You have twenty standing armies?” Twilight asked in confusion, Commander Star smiled slightly.

“Why yes, and that’s just the ones who are already prepared, I believe if we marshaled all of them we’d have around fifty armies each numbering around fifty thousand each. If we got desperate enough I suppose we could enlist the business ponies and the weather patrols and form another fifty although that would be overkill for anything short of desperation.” Commander Star told Twilight dismissively as Twilight sat there in shock. “And that’s leaving out the other civilians like the farmers and other essential labor.” Commander Star continued as the Twilights jaw dropped.

“That…that’s…that would be around five million soldiers!” Twilight exclaimed. “I don’t think that Equestria has even a fifth of that many ponies to begin with!”

“And that’s not even factoring in our god empress who I assure you makes many of the armies look insignificant in her power.” Commander Star told Twilight.

“But why would you possibly need that many soldiers?” Twilight asked Commander Star.

“This is not your world yet Miss Sparkle, do not presume to judge. Now I believe we were discussing the topic of why you may not leave in the first place…” Commander Star began

“Yes I’m curious.” Twilight said interrupting her by accident.

“…there are certain places in every world that the boundaries of reality are weak and if somepony accidentally falls through that isn’t a problem. The problem occurs when you try and force things through. For whatever reason the multiverse doesn’t like it, the multiverse resists by summoning ghastly creatures from some far off place to interrupt whatever ritual has been started. Even worse the creatures that come through are evenly matched against the pony who is opening the rift, which is one of the reasons why we have as large of a military as we do now.” Commander Star told her kindly, Twilight just sat there as the torrent of information washed over her in a wave.

Any hope of ever seeing her friends again had just been dashed to pieces, she’d never even had a chance to say goodbye, or tell them how important they really were to her. Twilight sat in the chair looking at her hooves as the tears started, she was stuck in a foreign reality with no way of getting back. Worst of all there was actually a good reason for it so Twilight couldn’t take out her grief or anger on those around her. Commander Star sighed, and Stonewall patted her gently on the shoulder; Twilight tried to shake him off but couldn’t manage.

“Miss Sparkle I really am sorry for you, but the fact remains that you’re here, and unless something major changes you are going to be staying here forever. So we need to find a good occupation for you, and given your advanced levels of magic I’ve already signed you up to be trained as a war mage.” Commander Star told Twilight.

“You did what?” Twilight asked her in anger as the tears flowed down her cheeks. “I’m here a day and I’m already being conscripted into the army!” Twilight exclaimed angrily, Commander Star nodded her head solemnly.

“If for no other reason than the fact that you need more control over your powers, I shudder to think of what would happen if you lost control in the middle of a city…” Commander Star told her frankly her voice trailing off.

“But I haven’t lost control of my magic in years, sure there were times that I did something stupid or rash, but I haven’t lost control since I was a filly!” Twilight told the Commander angrily.

“Twilight our world brings out the warrior in ponies and your inner warrior is screaming for release which you can feel right now at the back of your mind…” Twilight suddenly remembered that part of her subconscious that had taken control in the forest when the chimera had charged her. “…and if you don’t begin to train it soon it’ll overwhelm your sanity and you’ll kill many ponies before you’re stopped. That is something that I cannot allow.” The last sentence was tinged with solid steel. Commander Star levitated a lithe blade from a stand on the wall behind her into the air. “Miss Sparkle, I’m afraid your choices are join…or die.” The blade leveled its point at Twilight’s neck. Commander Star’s face was an impenetrable mask completely free of emotion as she regarded Twilight coolly. Twilight briefly considered taking a third option of teleporting away to the forest. But she was sure that if the pursuing soldiers didn’t catch her some other creature would.

“Fine, I’ll join…” Twilight said, the blade was immediately withdrawn, as was Stonewall’s and Stronghoof lowered his hammer. They had moved so silently into place that Twilight hadn’t noticed until they were quickly withdrawn.

“Excellent Miss Sparkle, and I am sorry about having to force you into this, but that’s the way of the world. Now if you’ll please sign these documents in your blood we’ll be done with official business.” Commander Star told Twilight who stared at her incredulously.

“You want me to sign a blood contract; do you think I’m an idiot foal?” Twilight asked Commander Star, she sounded insulted.

“You may read it first of course. I wouldn’t want you to do anything you didn’t feel comfortable with.” Commander Star told her passing Twilight the document.

“Of course you wouldn’t.” Twilight deadpanned picking up the irony of the statement immediately; Commander Star acknowledged it with a small smile. Twilight scanned the document, and to her great surprise she liked what she saw. “Wait, so war mages are paid one thousand bits a month plus a week of leave every other month as long as the country isn’t engaged in direct war?” Twilight asked Commander Star not believing her eyes.

“Indeed, good war mages are a scarce community we treat them right so that they keep us all above the ground.” Commander Star told Twilight with a wry grin. Twilight went back to reading the contract, once she came to the end she looked at Commander Star curiously.

“What’s the catch? There’s no way that this is all there is. There just has to be something about selling my soul to some dark god.” Twilight asked Commander Star who chuckled darkly.

“Miss Sparkle we fight those kinds of beasts, the blood signature is to protect our soldiers from mind spells.” Commander Star told her dryly, Twilight blushed slightly.

“I apologize for the insult Commander Star. It’s just that where I’m from when blood is required for magic it’s usually a bad sign.” Twilight told the mare as she accepted the pen that was passed to her. “How do I do this?” She asked.

“Just pierce the skin slightly, the pen will suck out some of your blood and temporarily turn it to ink. Just sign on the dotted line and you’re done.” Twilight did as she was instructed and signed her name on the contract.

“Now what do I do?” Twilight asked uncertainly, she had expected the contract to disappear in a flash of light, or for Commander Star to start cackling madly. What she’d gotten instead was Commander Star inspecting it quietly for a few seconds before she carefully slid it into a compartment in her desk.

“Now these two escort you to the Citadel where you’ll spend the next five years learning your spellcraft, although it may not take as long for you. In the meantime I’ll be sending a report of your situation to Empress Cosmosmia and we’ll see what she can do about at least sending some kind of message to this Princess Celestia of yours.” Commander Star told Twilight.

“Wait five years? I’ve been an avid practitioner of some of the most advanced types of magic since I was fourteen!” Twilight told Commander Star in annoyance, Star shrugged.

“And yet the only real war magic you possess is the ability to shoot large beams of fire and you can’t control it. Face it Miss Sparkle you need this training.” Commander Star told Twilight forcefully. “You’re all dismissed.” She continued with great finality. Stronghoof and Stone wall saluted before they turned to leave but not before they allowed Twilight time to follow them.

“So what did you think of the commander?” Stronghoof asked Twilight.

“She pressed me into military service for a nation that I don’t know and held a sword to my throat; to be honest I actually like her.” Twilight replied with a smile creeping across her face.

“That’s how most ponies see her; she’s also one of the best commanders in the military.” Stronghoof told her with a slight smile, Stonewall just nodded once before he began to look scan for something.

“What’s he looking for?” Twilight asked Stronghoof she watched Stonewall.

“Nothing, he’s just watching, he does that.” Stronghoof replied easily as Stonewall turned eye him in annoyance for a minute before he snorted and went back to looking around.

“Well where do we go now?” Twilight asked as her guides led her in-between rows of tents.

“We’re going to take a wagon into the forest till we get to the Citadel; it’s where they train war mages.” Stronghoof told her as they neared their first destination. The wagon station was filled with large metal wagons. The wagons were very impressive with thick steel armor that looked capable of taking a shot from one of the large ballista that were resting like sleeping dragons on the opposite side of the tent streets. Every wagon was hitched upto a team of eight large earth ponies who were wearing some sort of armor, although Twilight was certain it wasn’t as strong or as heavy as the armor that Stonewall and Stronghoof wore.

Stronghoof walked up to the nearest wagon and gave the lead pony an envelope that he pulled out of a slot on his armor; the pony scanned it quickly before he nodded. “They’ll get us to the Citadel by tonight at the latest.” Stronghoof told Twilight as he stepped into the wagon, Stonewall joined him followed by a slightly hesitant Twilight.

The wagon sped off with surprising speed easily drawing away from the fourth army. They entered the eaves of the Everlost forest and premature darkness overcame the bright sunlight shrouding them in shadows. The earth ponies pulling the wagons talked contentedly amongst themselves while they pulled their burden. Which mystified Twilight, there was no way they should have been able to pull the wagon and still be able to talk without being out of breath.

“How do they do that?” Twilight asked Stronghoof gesturing at the earth ponies, Stonewall chuckled and Stronghoof smiled.

“Magic, the spells on the wagon not only shield it from heat and reinforce the metal, they also make it considerably lighter then it normally would be. Hell Stonewall and I could probably haul it a few miles before falling down in exhaustion.” Stronghoof replied tapping the wall of the carriage with a hoof.

“There’s something I’ve been wondering…” Twilight said after a few minutes of silence as she looked out into the woods around them through the convenient glasslike windows.

“What?” Stronghoof asked her as he looked out the sides of the wagon idly, his eyes scanning for any trouble thanks to old campaigning habits.

“Well if that was the fourth armies H.Q. then why is it only made up of tents instead of actual buildings?” Twilight asked getting a chuckle out of Stonewall.

“That’s not our H.Q., that’s our campaigning gear. We’re out doing war games so we’re required to live under battlefield conditions.” Stronghoof replied with a slight smile.

“I have another question, why is Commander Star letting you two escort me, aren’t you two valuable?” Twilight asked them looking from one to the other.

“We’re valuable, but not as valuable as a war mage with your potential. Besides it’s just war games, trust me once you’ve played them a few dozen times they get stale.” Stronghoof replied with a shrug. Twilight nodded and let her thoughts wander as she went through the events of the day in her head again and again. Then a thought struck her.

“So what exactly are you ranked?” Twilight asked Stronghoof. “Commander Star seems to trust you, and I can’t imagine she’d send two novices to escort me to this Citadel.” Twilight continued.

“You really are clever aren’t you Twilight?” Stronghoof asked rhetorically, Twilight grinned a little. “Yeah Stone and I aren’t what you’d call novices, we’re actually members of her personal guard. But she thought it was time that the two of us took a little vacation and the Citadel is a pretty nice spot to do it as long as you aren’t a student.” Stronghoof told Twilight who nodded.

“Sorry I’m peppering you guys with questions, but why is Commander Star in control of an entire army? Where I’m from that’s a general’s job.” Twilight asked curiously, Stonewall smiled and shook his head.

“Here commanders are in direct control of one army, generals each control five. Commander Star has been offered the position of general many times, but she always turns it down.” Stronghoof said Stonewall started to snicker for some reason. “In fact one of my favorite memories on the job is the day that Cosmosmia herself came into Commander Star’s tent and almost begged her to accept the office. The Commander took her time thinking about it, then she told the Empress, and I quote. ‘Ma’am you honor me with the extraordinarily generous offer, and I’m deeply touched. However without me these soldiers wouldn’t last a week. So would you please stop offering me the job, because honestly my throat’s getting tired of repeating this speech?’ I swear the look on Cosmosmia’s face was classic she didn’t get mad or angry, she just burst into laughter.” Stronghoof told Twilight with a large smile breaking across his face.

“She said that to your Empress who can destroy mountains.” Twilight said dryly trying to imagine what Celestia would do if somepony did that to her Stonewall snickered across from her.

“Yeah, she’s one of the few who have the balls to do it. Then again it bolsters your courage a little when you’re the Empress’s daughter.” Stronghoof replied and laughed at the look on Twilight’s face.

“She has children?” Twilight asked in confusion, didn’t that sounded like something Celestia would do. In fact Twilight was pretty sure it was genetically impossible.

“She’s her adopted daughter; she is a god after all...” Stronghoof told Twilight. “…Although now that I think about it I’ve heard rumors about her having quite a few lovers.” Stronghoof continued casually causing Twilight’s face to turn scarlet, that definitely not something Celestia would do no matter what the paparazzi and dirty novelist all over Equestria thought.

Twilight wondered once again why Celestia put up with it, although her mentor had made it very clear to them what would happen if anypony insinuated that her involvement with Twilight was anything besides teacher and student. Twilight had always been thankful for that; the last thing she’d needed to worry about was to open up a box of new books and find a cover of herself and Celestia doing things to each other.

“You still in there Twilight, you look kind of out of it?” Stronghoof asked her, Twilight shook herself out of her thoughts, which were beginning to take a turn for the dirtier sections of her mind and refocused on Stronghoof.

“Yeah I’m fine, I was just thinking of home…” Twilight said a little regretfully.

“Don’t worry you’ll love the Citadel it’s possibly the largest store of information on the continent. Besides once you’re back at the army you’ll be a war mage which means that you’ll be a major part of one the best armies in the world.” Stronghoof said with a smile, Twilight smiled back but her thoughts drifted back to Ponyville and her friends.

“Do you think I’ll ever see any of my friends again?” Twilight asked Stronghoof suddenly.

“Could be, who knows?” Stronghoof replied lapsing into a silence that lasted the rest of the trip.

When they arrived at the Citadel Twilight gazed at it in the fading light of the sun. The Citadel was the size of Ponyville and was composed of circular tiers that rose imposingly into the sky. Spread across these tires was one large castle that rose hundreds of feet above the surrounding forest; the castle was topped with towers and minarets that rose even higher. Long walkways extended between several of these but judging from what Twilight had seen so far these would be highly reinforced with spells. The entire place radiated magical energy causing Twilight’s fur to stand on end as her body adjusted to the feeling. Their wagon slowed to a stop and they came out slowly stretching their legs and backs. Stronghoof nodded to the lead earth pony before he took a sack of bits out of a slot in his armor and passed it to the earth pony who nodded his thanks.

“I’m sure you’ll love it here Twilight like I said before this is the best store of information anywhere except possibly in one or two of the dragon’s hoards.” Stronghoof said patting her shoulder as they entered. “After all it’s not like you’re going to magic kindergarten.”

Next Chapter: Chapter 2 Estimated time remaining: 5 Hours, 53 Minutes