Lush green hills of rolling pastures of grazing, clean stream waters fresh from the cold arctic peeks over head, and the most beautiful and pristine of pony workmanship making for the grandest stone walls that have ever been seen by ponykind. That was but the first glance one would be treated to when they came upon Trottania. Trottania on the outside was a beautiful, untouched landscape with but a few outposts here and there for public protection. The fields, though used for tilling and providing the citizens of Trottania with food, was as rich with history as the city pass the outer walls. However, unlike Equestria, Trottania was not so well known for keeping exact records of those rich histories...
And also unlike Equestria, Trottania itself was the capital city, trade point, and as well the only city under Trottanian rule. This however does not speak well against Trottania as a whole, seeing how their lands roll and stretch further then their king can see. It is only that their king, in all of his wisdom and greatness refuses to let his subjects expand civilization further then he can see; much like a father not wanting his children scamper off into the unknown where he can't protect them. Even still, over the tests of time and war, Trottania has evolved without the need for expanding outside the capital's massive stone walls or deep moat lining the brim of the outside. Should anyone disagree with that knowledge, The Round is always willing to disagree with them on the king's behalf.
Who are the Round? A smart question if you are to go to Trottania. You see, despite Trottania's great fighting ability and (barely recorded) rich history, it for the longest time lacked idols for the citizens to look to except their devilishly handsome king. So, the king with all of his time devised the plan of forming The Knights of The Round, or The Round for short. The Round would be formed from the mightiest stallions and mares that the king could find, ones that if given time and life would become the greatest knights that the world would ever know. In time, he formed his Round of knights. Each one skilled, loyal, and most of all ideal. They became the protectors, saviors, and indeed the figures that the ponies of Trottania deserved as well as needed. Even still, for their king it was not enough.
No, for him there was something much more pressing besides his subjects' happiness; however, this matter would in hopes aid to that as well. But to Camelot, king of Trottania, the Scarred King, there was one goal that he had never realized. Celestia. That name alone brought nothing but boiling rage to Camelot; not from hate, but tested patients. For times passed, he has waited for his answer from the princess of Equestria, and has never received it. Most stallions would quit after ten years of waiting, but after 909 years, Camelot still waits. And waits. And continues to wait. There has never been anything more in Camelot's life that mattered more then to gain his answer from Celestia.
That is why with this news of chaos wreaking havoc, her sister's return, and the attack by the Changeling horde, Camelot feels it's finally time to beat his request in one final time. And this time, Celestia will not deny him...
"...Did you get all of that, squire?" a single bleak eye swayed to the side to look at the unicorn etching against a piece of parchment with a quill as fast as he could.
"Y-Yes my lord!"
"Good fellow!" that eye sparked to life and the unicorn colt watched as its own started to turn over to look at him directly.
The colt straightened up his posture and rolled up the piece of parchment with his magic hold, not once looking away from the albeit shabby looking stallion turning to look at him. "I do like some prudence in these matters. So may I trouble you with another task?"
"Of course your majesty!"
"You're on your way boy..." the stallion chuckled, a cough sneaking into his lets of joy. "I will need you to gather my Round..."
"Gather the Round? Whatever for my liege?"
At first, the old stallion did not answer and instead started to walk over to a nearby outlook in his throne room, his back right leg lagging behind him with a wooden 'thunk'. The colt squire watched the aged stallion move slowly to the outlook before straightening up once more as he heard a familiar cough. "I will be leaving for a trip soon, boy. And leaving without my finally finished Round wouldn't look very professional of me when I arrive, correct?"
"Yes, of course my liege."
"Grand. Now... Where are my knights?"
Scrambling for another scroll beside him, the squire hooked his magic into a much smaller paper than he already had. "Yes, well... You see-" the squire listed off the locations of Camelot's knights one by one, knowing his king was listening as much as he could.
Sadly for him, Camelot was already too far gone in his own thoughts as he pretended to listen intently. "Equestria... Celestia... after so long you will see just how life has changed... And more so how I have changed... Granted I've seen a few too many dragon's lately," as he thought, he felt the empty limb of his back right leg and gravely scarred wing, "But growth has never come without casualties... And you will soon see the power of my Round! The power I shall show you! You will finally accept my wishes! This... I... know!"
"--And Kay is-- King Camelot? Are you listening?"
"What? Oh... Of course Arthur, certainly I was," Camelot felt his gray face burn with embarrassment. "That aside... Please see to it that my Round be gathered before me within the dusk."
"As you wish..." The squire bowed his head and proceeded to exit the lengthy throne room, leaving the old stallion to himself.
Camelot took a moment of the gained silence to breath in calmly. "Mustn't grow to anxious. I must be poised for this..." returning to his throne, he say his flank down and eyed the distant golden ordainment hanging in the center of the room. So many memories flew through him as he looked against the shimmer of that old blade, bringing a smile on his face. But just as suddenly as it came, it fell back when a thought came to his mind. "The Round of late are a bit young... Physically so at least. They wouldn't--? No, no... Nothing to worry about... Business before pleasure is part of the Code. They won't let me down."