Chapter 2

Rise of the Forbidden Legion

“Let her approach the podium!” King Caelum thundered.

Azure whispered a quick 'thank you' and made her way up to the podium. All eyes watched as she walked and I could guarantee that many of the alicorns had never seen a pegasus before. She bows to the royal family and steps up to the stand. She looks around nervously but when she starts to talk I heared no fear in her voice.

“Members of the council, I have witnessed the evils being committed primarily by the unicorns. Long has this war been a war of attrition with the pegasi hidden in fortified clouds and mountaintops with the unicorns unable to strike them with their magic. But that has now changed. Through their efforts the unicorns have developed a spell that gives them the ability of flight. They now wage a campaign of extermination against us and our proud warriors can do nothing.”

Azure took a deep breath then continued. I noticed that she was becoming more and more emotionally distraught.

“I have watched city after city fall to the unicorn armies. They leave nopony alive. Even the foals are not free of their massacres! Armies, thousands strong crumble to a mere hundred of their magicians. The pegasi will barely survive another two years. I beg of you,” she was crying now, tears spilling onto the podium “please help end this!”

Azure looked so small and helpless as she stepped down and walked to her seat.

“Does the opposition have a nominee to counter this?” asked the King.

A dull gray senator stood. A snake tongued coward named Wordweave.

“I nominate myself!” he cried in a high voice.

A roar of approval erupted from most of the senators. I could tell that my sister's speech had failed to sway the majority of senators. Those heartless bastards!

“My friends,” he began “it appears that the military seeks to drag us once again into another war!”

“That is false!” my father roared and jumps onto his hooves. It was an outburst that was quite unusual for him.

“General Stormwing,” the King ordered “please restrain yourself.”

“Sorry your highness,” my father sat heavily back into his seat.

“As I was saying before our beloved general interrupted me,” he smiled cruelly at my father “what is it to us, the grand race of alicorns, to risk ourselves in ending the petty struggles of the lesser races. Should we trust the word of this lesser pony?”

I was expecting my father to erupt with rage again but he remained seated. His face was hidden under his helmet but I knew he was contemplating murder. I could hear my sister start to cry and Skybreaker growling in hate.

Wordweave continued “no my friends, we must continue to sit back and allow those lesser destroy themselves. If the unicorns eradicate the pegasi then it will be one less race of savages to contend with on our borders. It is not our position to intervene in the wars of others.”

The hall erupted again into chaos as Wordweave stepped down and joined his fellow senators. I could tell every general. I knew the generals all wanted to intervene but they held only seven of the council votes. The senate held twenty-four and the royal family held just four.

“Order in the council!” King Caelum thundered.

The hall instantly became silent.

“Are we prepared for a vote or shall we retire for a while to allow the members time to think?”

My father stood, “we request an one hour recess your highness.”

“Recess granted,” the King magically lifted a gavel and slamed it onto the podium.

The hall quickly emptied and I stepped outside into the palace courtyard. A square mile garden that was immune to the seasons. I step into the sunlight and an old friend greets me.

“Traveler, I can tell that you don’t enjoy politics quite as much as most alicorns.”

Draconequus waltzed up to me and nudges me in the side. Of course that isn’t his true name but then nobody knows his name, so we all called him by the name of his species. He was the last of his kind, an adolescent in relation to other immortal races. He was taken in as the adopted member of the palace family.

“It is going horrible,” I stretched my body and wings “the senate is pathetic as usual.”

Draconequus popped the helmet off of my head and absentmindedly tossed it repetitively into the air.

“Oh yes,” he tries on my helmet and makes a serious face “those senators are quite a pain.”

“May I have my helmet back?” I changed the topic from politics to other matters, “are you still going after Princess Luna?”

“Why yes I am” he plopped the helmet back onto my head “and in fact I am having more luck than you with your attempts with the other pretty princess. Though the King isn’t very pleased with our relationship.”

“True,” I said as I adjusted my helmet “but Luna has a fancy for the unnatural and unusual.”

Draconequus acted offended but I knew he wasn’t “unnatural and unusual you call me! Oh the sorrow! My truest friend has insulted me!”

He dramatically covered his face with his lion arm and his heart with the eagle claw then disappears in a flash of light. I stood there shaking my head when my father, Azure and her family walked up to me.

“How goes it?” I asked.

“I was able to win over a few of the senators but most of them remain loyal to the opposition. I hope the others have had luck,” my father shook his head sadly “but I doubt it.”

“Alicorn politics is not very effective from what I have seen,” Skybreaker huffs.

“I have to agree with you” my father leaned against a tree “I miss the old days when the senate didn’t exist.”

We stoodd in silence listening to the birds for the rest of the hour. Eagleheart approaches us and motions for us to return to the hall. We quietly took our seats and waited for the voting to start. The same white speaker rolled out a large gold box in front of the podium and one by one the council members stood and placed a piece of paper with their votes into the box. After the last of the council members placed their votes each member of the royal family steps forwards and does the same.

The speaker takes away the box and we wait. I look at my sister and she looks back at me with a face radiating fear. I hear my father next to me quietly start singing 'The Last Song of the Legionnaire', a sad old lullaby he use to recite to us when we each were foals. Though he sang it quietly, its tune resonated eerily thought the hall.

“Don't cry my child

This dark and cold night

though I walk in the wild

My heart will take flight

To you it will go

Following the sound of your love

Like the winter snow

It will fall on you my dove

Now you fall asleep

With my memories in tow

Into dreams soft an deep

You will be without woe

I fought for you my dear

Tonight as you dream

I am without fear

as I lie next to this stream

Goodbye my child

This dark and cold night

Though I fell in the wild

My heart will take flight”

“Votes have been tallied,” the speaker announced “and they stand nineteen to sixteen with those opposed to intervening with the war winning the vote.”

My heart instantly sank to my stomach. The Sky Hall erupted once more into chaos. The King raised his hoof and silence returned.

“As is custom” King Caelum quietly said “the representative for the victorious party will decide the punishment if somepony goes against the decisions of the council.”

Wordweave stood and made his way up to the podium all the while glaring triumphantly at the generals.

“I, my friends, am happy to say that the council has once again chosen the best approach to a problem. To prevent anypony from attempting to go against the council and its wisdom they will be stripped of their horn and magic. They will be exiled as one of the forgotten with their memories being erased from the population of the empire.”

An angry murmur went up from the generals but none of them protested openly. Wordweave stepped down from the podium and the speaker stepped back up.

“This now concludes the council.” He lifted up the gavel, slammed it onto the podium and the hall quickly emptied.

That night I walked into my fathers training room. I expected him to be tearing apart a practice manikin in rage but instead I found a broken stallion deep in grief. He sat on the edge of a bench staring at his hooves.

“She left,” he said as I sat down next to him. He looked up at me with bloodshot and teary eyes “Azure went back home with her family. She said that there was nothing left for her here and that she was happy to die next to her kin.”

We sat in silence for more than a hour. The candles next to us played on the walls and I watched them absentmindedly.

“Father,” I turn back to the silent pony next to me “ I have made up my mind.”

A questioning look played across his face.

“I am going to gather everypony that I can and I will end the war. Either with the words of my mouth or the fires of war, I will end it.”

He looked into my eyes and a sense of understanding passed between us.

“Oh my son,” he said quietly “today is the day you became that great leader I always knew you'd be. But be careful and ready yourself for what is to come. I will lose you my son, but the world will gain a hero, a legend and that is an exchange I can live with.”

We sat there the rest of night reminiscing on our lives and the many memories we had. The next morning I would begin the dangerous task of raising a secret army.

I was walking down a deserted country road when a green stallion trotted up to me.

“What is the news?” I asked him.

It had been five months since the council and I had been busy gathering alicorns to my cause.

“It isn’t good news sir” he pauses to regain his breath “our recruitment operations in the south and west had to stop because of suspicions growing with the local governors.”

I take in this new information and quickly think of a solution.

“I have been receiving news that the same is starting to happen in the other regions as well.”

“What is the plan sir?”

“Spread the word, we are acting now. Tell my commanders and any members to spread the word and make their way with all supplies to the foot of Mount Triumphant immediately. I will meet them there.”

The messenger nodded his head then disappeared into a flash of light. I flash myself to the legion barracks and I look for Eagleheart. Most of the generals were supportive of my plans and they assisted me in any way they could. I found her in the courtyard watching water drip into the well.

“Good evening General” I said, “is something wrong?”

She looked at me and smiled.

“I was actually thinking about you and your father,” she said quietly “I am worried for him and how he is going to become without you.”

“Keep him company for me,” I replied with a smile.

“I will. Did you want something Traveler?”

“There is going to be a robbery of the legion armories tonight. Do you mind lessening the guard to allow the thieves easier access?”

“Does this mean you are leaving soon?”

“Yes.”

“Very well then, a few of the guards will be on sick leave tonight” she watches me sadly for a few moments “will this be the last time that we meet?”

“Most likely.”

“Then farewell Traveler, son of Stormwing” she leaned forward and whispered “return a hero of justice and the judgment of the council will be nothing more but the reasoning of fools and foals.”

She turned and walked away. I went inside to speak to my father one last time. He was busy directing a few new recruits on the proper way to use a hoof blade. He noticed me approaching, allowed the training to be taken over by his centurions and walks up to me.

“Hello son,” he looked me deep in the eyes “you are leaving, aren’t you?”

“Yes I am.”

He let the news sink in for a moment.

“Well then there is no sense crying over it, we have done that enough lately.” he places his horn on my forehead “go my son with my blessing and fight with honor. Make me more proud than I already am to have you as my son.”

“I will father,” I turned to leave.

“And traveler” he stoped me “keep Azure and her family safe and give her my love for me.”

I smiled at the stallion I had known so little about. I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes and I quickly turned and walked away.

My last stop was the palace itself. I entered the majestic structure and I made my way up to the living quarters. Just outside of the doors leading into Celestia's chamber a guard stopped me.

“What is your business here,” he ordered.

“I wish to speak to the princess,” I replied.

“Did she send for you?”

“No.”

“Then I can't let you in now can I,” he retorted sharply.

“Let him enter” said a deep voice behind me.

I turned to see King Caelum himself standing over me. A kind smile played across his face.

“Thank you sir,” I stammered.

He nodded at me and walked away. The guard steps aside and I went in.

“Your highness, you have a guest!” the guard announced as I entered.

I see Princess Luna's head peak around a corner further down the hall.

“Sister,” I heared her say “it is traveler.”

“Traveler, come on in!”

I entered the tea room. Celestia is sitting on a large cushion talking to her sister. This was going to be the most painful goodbye yet.

“I know why you are here Traveler,” she said quietly “the entire royal family knows but we are not going to try and stop you.”

I was surprised but I tried not to show it.

“You are here to say goodbye,” she frowned at me.

“Yes.”

“I am not letting you.”

“I thought you said that you were not going to stop me?” I said confused.

“I am coming with you.”

“No,” I protested “Tia, you can't come with me!”

“You can't stop me.”

“I already tried to change her mind all month” Luna sighed “but to no avail.”

“Does your father or your mother know about this?”

“My father has probably guessed at it but he isn’t saying anything. I won't be punished for this if that is what you are worried about. I am immune to the decisions of the council.”

“Fine then,” I huffed angrily “I will stop protesting your decision.”

She smiled at me with the same smile that gave me courage all those months ago in the Sky Hall.

“Get your things ready,” I turned to leave “we will be leaving in three days from Mount Triumph.”

I walked back out into the hall and strait into Draconequus.

“Before you ask,” he says “I am not coming with you.”

“You know too?”

“Luna likes to talk and I like to listen.”

I shook my head, “take care of yourself my friend.”

“Oh I will,” he laughed.

We parted ways and I headed back out of the palace. I flashed myself back to the legion headquarters. I quickly gathered my armor, weapons and supplies. I stopped rushing about when I discovered a small wooden box on my pillow. A note lie beside it. It was written in my fathers style of writing.

~
Dear Traveler

This was your mothers and now I am giving it to you. It has been enchanted to give the wearer the ability to make the wisest decisions and to see through the confusion of the world. It has helped me through the years. Wear it for me and everypony you care about and love.

Your Loving Father
~

I slowly opened the box. Inside I found a medallion of two alicorns attached together by magic at the wings, one silver and the other gold. The silver had blue eyes and the other a deep magenta. I stared at it admiring the craftsmanship for a while then I put it back into its box and into my bag.

Four-thousand five-hundred fifty-seven. The number bounced around my head. That was the number of alicorns now under my command.

“Behold the forbidden legion!” I exclaimed.

“The Forbidden Legion,” Celestia rolled the words around as if she was tasting them “sounds good, I think it will stick.”

My legion camped at the base of the mountain in a hidden valley. Today was the day when we were going to leave for the tribe lands.

“Better get everypony up and ready.”

I turned to my officers.

“Gather your centurions and wake the camp. We move out at noon.”

“Yes sir!” they reply together.

I turned back to the camp laid out before me.

“What were the numbers again?” I asked the Princess.

“Two thousand are deserters from the legions. Little more than a thousand are other military and guard factions. The rest are from backgrounds both noble and simple.”

I heared horns, trumpets and drums start to echo throughout the valley. The sound bounced off the stones like the roars of a caged animal. Two hours later one of my officers gallop up to me. A dark orange stallion with a yellow mane and green eyes.

“All forty-five centurions report that their cohorts are ready sir.”

“Thank you Captain Tides,” I smiled at the stallion.

“It's hard to believe it, I use to serve under your father in the most celebrated legion and now I serve under his son in one that is forbidden.”

“It's a little ironic,” I laughed.

“What is the course of action now sir?” he asked.

“Our scouts have finally discovered the estimated location of the pegasi capitol so we will head there. Tell the other captains to gather their cohorts and follow me and my guard. We will fly nonstop until we reach our destination.”

“Yes sir,” Tides turned sharply and hurried off.

I looked up at the sky and admired the pleasant weather. An excellent day for flying. I turn to one of my scouts.

“Take two of your fellow scouts and continue your search for the true location of the city. When you find it warn the the inhabitants of our arrival.”

“Yes sir.”

I looked down at my breastplate and at the medallion my father gave me. It glistened in the sunlight and I couldn’t help thinking about my uncertain future.

“You look as if something is bothering you?”

I looked up at the Princess.

“Your observation is true. I am thinking about what lies ahead.”

“Don't,” she poked me in the side with her horn “it will tear you apart inside.”

I smiled at her.

“You ready?” I asked.

She nodded. I spread my wings and I took off into the air. She and my guards follow me into the sky. I climb higher and higher toward the clouds feeling the wind in my mane. I look back and I watch as the legion rises up behind me.

“Rise forbidden legion,” I yelled “ rise to the sky and rise to our fate. For honor, justice and glory!”

A great yell rose up from the army and I felt exhilaration beyond anything I had felt before. I start off into the blue horizon with the last hope of the pegasi trailing in a mile long formation behind me.

“I just fear we are too late,” I whispered to myself as the sun topped the peak of Mount Triumphant.

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