“Why armies?” It is a simple question. In terms of power it would take thousands attacking as one to bring me harm and even then I would endure.
For a time I stood alone to defend Equestria. I risked myself before all others but I am only one. One may be distracted, one may be tricked where many would not be. A small raiding party fell before me while a city burned behind me. One stood in defense where I was not able. Aegis stood as a wall between my ponies and those who would bring them harm.
He was the first knight. I offered him a boon, anything he wished. A unicorn mare, a daughter of a noble family was his only desire. An earth pony commoner like him was not permitted to court her and he longed only for that chance.
To simply dissolve the tradition that kept them apart was my first attempt. The nobles refused. The debate escalated until I threatened to dissolve the houses as a whole. When Celestia openly sided with the nobles I knew I was outmatched.
And so if the pompous arrogance of the nobles could not be tamed I made Aegis a noble. Landless and without wealth or influence , he was a noble in name only but to those so concerned with appearances a name was enough.
-L
Page generated in 0.04 seconds
Total duration
935 users online
574,333 hits today, 2,814,898 yesterday
My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Fanfiction
Designed and coded by knighty & Xaquseg - © 2011-2024
Support us
SubStar
Chat!
Discord
Follow us
Twitter
MLP: Friendship is Magic® - © 2024 Hasbro Inc.®
Fimfiction is in no way affiliated with or endorsed by Hasbro Inc.®
Thought it's easy to write Celestia as being completely unprepared to make Luna seems more heroic. I've always felt Celestia spent her time ruling alone mastering the "long game" and becoming indirect the Chess master. Could Celly have "accidentally" left resources her sister could exploit or easily acquire to build the " shadow army" Equestria needs?
Something tells me that Luna may have had more than a little crush on Aegis herself. Maybe that's why she remembers such a pony noble in spirit if not blood for so long.
4387080
I think that Celestia is so repelled by the idea of war or conflict of any kind that she would literally have a blind spot. If she left the resources lying around it was because she literally didn't want to think about their existence.
4388057 That seems a bit unlikely given that the Royal Guard, you know, exists. If she was anti-conflict to the degree that you are suggesting then I doubt she would have even a token standing army, let alone one surrounding her at all times armed with big pointy spears.
4388395
It actually fits in with how generally primitive, ceremonial and ineffective the Royal Guard actually is shown to be.
4388492 Not shown to be, assumed to be. We've never actually seen them either lose or win on screen with the exception of a few scenes with Shining Armor, and it's mixed when you take him into account.
This story never disappoints.
4388519 No, I distinctly remember seeing a few of them getting tied up during the wedding, and absolutely none being seen in the castle attempting to fight off the massive army of changelings which are able to chase the elements of harmony around with impunity.
It was abundantly clear on screen the changelings had total control of the area around the castle at the very least, and shots around Canterlot showed no resistance at all. If you've lost control of your Capital then that's a major loss.
You could argue they were organising a resistance off screen but that doesn't change that on screen they had lost control of the skies, the streets and the castle.
4393558 What we saw on screen was two guardsponies tied up by changelings.
That said, you make a good point regarding the loss of control of the battlefield. However, if we're going to assume a lost battle in this instance, it's only fair to remember that the military commander on the scene was compromised by the enemy well in advance of the fight. That means that any and all plans that the guard would have had for responding to an attack would have been compromised as well, not to mention the lack of leadership once the situation went fubar and the army of shape shifters attacked.
Declaring the guard to be an incompetent military organization based on this one instance where the odds were so harshly stacked against them is a ridiculously high standard.
4393749
Is that an unreasonable standard though?
What's the point in an armed organisation if it's unable to adapt to an attack against their heads of state in their own capital while simultaneously failing to keep their super weapon secure?
It's a high standard, but I don't think it's an unreasonably high one for that kind of organisation.
At the same time though it is only one example. It's the only example though from which we may base any conclusions, making them rickety, but so far no less valid.
4398780 I'm actually kind of floored that you think the standard you are going with is reasonable. Their command structure was compromised at the highest level and all their emergency plans would have been both known and subject to manipulation by the enemy. The identities and locations of command staff and their families would have been known, the locations and vulnerabilities of guard facilities would have been known.
It is ridiculous to suggest that losing the fight against that level of disadvantage means the guard is incompetent.