//------------------------------// // call to arms // Story: Redemptions Price // by ferrosxlupus //------------------------------// Where would you start? If your life gave you Another second Chance? Call to Arms Princess Luna looked out into the night, and for the first time since the rule of discord, felt fear. In the forest of the Everfree, evil beings lurked in the darkness. The gates of Tartarus were breaking, releasing the denizens that dwelled there into the night. Her night. She was silently wishing for a guardian for her people. Hoping for miracle so that nopony would need fear her beautiful night any longer. She sent a silent prayer to whoever would listen “Help us protect our ponies” she whispered to the night sky “Princess Luna I found it” Princess Twilight Sparkle burst into the room startling the Lunar princess. “What have you found Twilight?” “Princ—“ “Twilight, how many times must I tell you? You are one of us now, please address me as Luna. I am your friend after all. “Yes Luna. As I was saying, I have found our answer. In Starswirl’s personal journal that you so graciously gave me I found a passage pointing towards a legend about your mother” stated Twilight excitedly. “Our mother? Queen Soliana?” “The one and only, may she rest peacefully. After looking into the oldest version of "Myths and Legends of the Royals" possible. I came across the legend that Starswirl spoke of. It detailed a story of her one and only extra-planar trip that any royal family member has ever taken. She met somepony or something called the gray paladin. He made a contract with her stating that he would protect the harmony of Equestria when it needed him the most.” She was practically dancing with excitement. Luna was nodding her head remembering what little memories she had of her mother. A kind soul that was who she aspired to be like. Continuing, Twilight kept telling her story. “Starswirl also mentions another journal. It belonged to queen Soliana. Following his thinking I found it in the palace that had been your mother’s and father’s when they had ruled.” Surprised at this Luna stared with mouth agape. Stuttering out the words she barely spoke “y-y-y-you found h-her home.” “Yes, the palace of the royal sisters was once your mothers. Your mother’s quarters didn’t survive the test of time but her journal did. I hope you don’t mind that I went there.” “No, no it is quite ok. I will have to visit sometime and pay respect to our dearest mother” “Yes. She left her journal there with a time stop spell on it. Preserving it, to this day. With it was the contract and instructions to complete a spell to awaken the gray paladin from his slumber.” “Is there anything else that we should know of?’ “There is a price. It takes the magic from four royal princess to activate a two part spell. The first part will activate an awakening spell, and the second will make us forget that we activated it.” Twilight spoke lightly sobering up at the fact she would forget she ever made this discovery. “That is an unusual Price indeed. We must discuss this with Celestia and Cadence, this is a decision that involves them as well.” Upon hearing this Twilight turned to her captain of her newly form Astra Guard, and him to gather the other two princess’ and their respective captains of the guard. [30 minutes later] The four royal princess’ were gathered around a great table. Beside each princess stood their captains of each of the royal guards of each princess. Princess Celestia and Silver Helm. Her newly appointed captain of the Solar Guard after shining Armor became prince. He had proved his mettle several times in the past years however now was his time to truly stand out. Continuing to the right sat Princess Luna. With her was captain Night Shade of the Lunar Guard. In the short time since the return of the Lunar princess the Lunar guard had grown into a small yet highly trained elite. Princess Cadence sat with her newly awoken, Captain Diamond Sword of the Crystal Guard. They were the largest of all the guards. However they were currently working on bringing their outdated tactics and training up to date. They were spearheaded by prince Shining Armor who had made it his personal personal project. Finally Princess Twilight and her Captain Meteor. The Astra Guard had been recently formed and was a more focused in intelligence. Because they were so new they were seen as ghosts. Knowledge which Twilight capitalized on. Working highly in the areas of stealth and tactical knowledge gathering it was assumed they knew everything. Celestia was the first to speak “ Luna, Twilight, I hear that you have good news for us. Please share what it may be with us all. I am very curious to learn of what you have found.” “Celestia, if I may be so informal.” Twilight gave a slight giggle “Your mother, the late Queen Soliana left a journal detailing a contract she formed with a being known as the gray paladin.” Princess Celestia furrowed her brow in concentration, an odd look Twilight thought. After several minutes had passed she finally spoke her mind. “How come mother never told us about this?” Luna was nodding her head in agreement. “This is something very important, we should have been told he could have saved us many times by now” Twilight answered their questions quickly “I believe it is because of what he is meant for, his entire being is to preserve the balance of our world. Conflict and hardship are to make us grow. So that we cherish each day. This gray paladin is here to protect from outside forces. Those that would completely tip the scale. That and he may have already awoken before, several times in fact. Several legends that are important to the history of Equestria either revolve around or refer to a pony known as the gray. The type of pony is unclear, as each story has a different race including Alicorn. The only facts that are concrete is that his right fore hoof up to his shoulder is red, and that each had a blade that possessed otherworldly qualities. But we have never awoken him, as far as we know. He has always awoke by himself. During Twilights explanation cadence looked entirely confused. She looked up and spoke softly to the others. “I grew up with the stories of the gray, ever since I was little my grandma would tell me the stories. In the very beginning of each of them a normal pony would either go on an adventure or become lost in the Everfree forest. In the forest they would find a castle, a voice would whisper, come to me and I shall teach you. They had found a teacher, and in when they left to honor their teacher they would change their coat colors to match his. And each would travel the land, speaking of the teachings that they had learned from the gray himself.” Diamond Sword slammed his hoof on the table, startling everypony present. “These stories matter not. Our choice is now. DO we wake the Gray Paladin and forget? Or let him sleep and remember today. I say that the price is fair and we should pay it. The benefits far outweigh the price. Not remembering one small event to save our land.” Every captain nodded their heads in agreement. The princess however looked skeptical on it. Magic always had a higher price than what was told Captain Meteor spoke next. “We are losing badly, monsters that we have never even dealt with before are pouring out of Tartarus and other places. As much as I hate to admit it we need heroes. If this is the spark necessary to create the first one on our side so be it.” Everypony waited silently contemplating what was said. Changes were happening, and the biggest choice was theirs to make. Finally Silver Helm broke the peace that had occurred after the outburst of captain meteor and diamond sword. “There is no solace in our position. We are at the precipice. We have two paths before us. One path gives salvation a chance, the other is a dark path that we do not know where it leads. I believe our choice is quite clear.” Silence again. Silver helm had brought it all to a conclusion. One by one everypony nodded their heads. Twilight the last to nod her head began the spell. Because in all actuality the magic that was being shared with her to do the spell was only a simple key. A catalyst to undo a spell that was already there. It would awaken the gray paladin from his slumber and seal the memories away in there head. It would feel simply like they had misplaced something. And in time the spell itself would fade and the memory would return after they had met the gray paladin himself. As she was weaving the spell, Twilight marveled at the changes she had gone through. Since she became a princess and the avatar of magic and friendship her magic had changed quite drastically. She could now actually see what was happening magically instead of just feeling it. Ever since she discovered the gray paladin a golden light had shone above her head. When she had first told Princess Luna of him two silver threads had formed going to each successive pony who learned of the spell to awaken the gray paladin. When they had finally made their decision to awaken him several runes formed around the light. Twilight gathered the energies that had been shared with her from each princess, and formed a magical crystal. When she was finally ready she just barely touched the mote of magical light and it ignited into a magical beacon above the table they were at. Several runes formed quickly creating a circular seal upon the table. And from the very center burst the arm of none other than a dragon. Ethereal as no other pony but Twilight could see it. It reached up and grabbed the golden light. With another burst of fire it vanished from whence it came. Seared into the table for everypony to see was a simple phrase. “I Have Awoken.” Although nopony knew the meaning, they all knew that something big had occurred. Shaking the confusion out and pondering the meaning of the words they all left to find ways to save their ponies. Even though they had just set in motion the means to save them all. [Everfree forest] Deep within the confines of the Everfree forest. Just beyond were most traveler dare to go. A mere week from the last town in the free forest. A dark place were only the bravest of explorers or the most unlucky souls seek refuge. A pair of eyes fluttered open for the first time in a millennium and a half.