//------------------------------//
// Prologue - Equestria Academy 
// Story: Equestria Academy: Maximus Bellum 
// by Tristen Izo 
//------------------------------//

Princess Celestia stood upon the balcony of her quarters, looking over the land she ruled. Equestria. The land rightfully belonging to her, now torn in two. The land was now torn apart between thoes who supported her and thoes who supported the rule of Discord. Promises of fame and fortune to thoes who supported him, promise of high status and all their dreams brought to life. Thoes vain enough to belive him immideatly went and joined the Discordian Army, living on the opposite side of the continent which he claimed for his own. What's more, he seemed to have no boundries he wouldn't cross in order to get his way. Since the war began, reports of crime skyrocketed, typically in the name of the rules of the "Discordian Army", as the army's soldiers typically said. Senseless slaughter, violence and tyranny ran rampant since the rise of his army, using the masterful scientists he had in order to build machines incapable of mercy to thoes that Discord pointed out to them. 

Though Celestia would not be outdone.

For the past few years, maybe a year or two after the war began, she opened up the grand building where she stood now, Equestria Academy. The school was just that, a school. However, rather than only learning the standard curiculum, the students also learned how to improve the abilities they'd been given. Every student was well gifted, having abilities some would call supernatural or frightning, but Celestia called these gifts. These young students were gifted with the ability to defend their home. Celestia would not lie. To herself or to others. She was training these students to fight in the war, and every graduate student has gone on to do so. However, they did not have to. That was entirely their choice. The Princess never forced them to go into combat for her, they did so upon mastering their abilities and leaving the school, further wishing to serve Celestia. She only hoped, with all of her being, that such loyalty was not misplaced....

Lately though, she noted, something must have been amiss. It's possible she was just being paranoid, which would be perfectly understandable in a time of war. Though she could swear that, subtly, Discord was getting bolder. His army had launched small-scale attacks on out-of-the-way towns. They did not do much damage by any means, but that still made her suspicious. What would he hope to gain from attacking minor places that, while he knew she'd care about them, would not benefit him to harm in any manor? It didn't make sense to her. Was he plotting something? The thought of Discord possibly taking his time in executing a plan that he was carefully setting up frightened her. She would need to send out forces to quickly go and check on the towns that had been reported attacked once more, and have them do a more thorough job. There was no way that he'd do such a thing for no reason. She would also need to place more military around her half of the continent. She would assure no troops would cross and do harm to any of her subjects. 

"Princess Celestia?" a voice asked, snapping the multi-color haired Princess from her thoughts. She glanced back, seeing a frail looking young woman stand at her door, clad in a dress shirt and matching skrit, both beige, and wearing glasses that seemed slightly too small for her face and rested upon her nose. She held a clipboard in her hands, and gave a small bow of appology. "Sorry for just entering like this unannounced but you told me to come inform you immideatly once the letters had been sent out to thoes specific six youths you mentioned."

"Thank you, Formalis. I take that to mean all of them have been successfully delivered?" Celestia asked, walking over. She stood a good foot taller than the young woman before her, and wasn't dressed nearly as formal as she was. Celestia herself wore a simple T-shirt with gold trimmings along the edge, and a pair of jeans along with some dress shoes. Then again, this was her room, and she could do as she pleased here.

"We just recived word from out mail force that all of them were successfully delivered to each one, and one is even already on her way here." Formalis explained, looking at the clipboard she held. "All of them should be here soon enough, within the next few days at most. Perfectly in time for the opening ceremony."

"Perfect. Thank you very much. Dismissed," Celestia told her. Formalis bowed to her leader, and Celestia turned to return to her balcony, but paused when Formalis spoke.

"If you don't mind me asking, Lady Celestia," Formalis said hesitantly, standing up straight again. "Just what's so special about this six youths? I'd never even heard of most of them until recently."

"I'd have expected as much." Celestia said, a smile gracing her features. She stood beside her young advisor and looked at the clipboard with her. "Let's start with them, from top to bottom."

"Thank you, Lady Celestia." Formalis said, smiling up at her, though a light blush was also on her face. Her lady, her Princess, so close to her, and not only that, more than willing to answer her query. Though, of course, Formalis hadn't expected her to just turn a blind eye to the question, but it brought her joy to actually have it answered. She held in a giggle of pure glee as Celestia lead her over to the bed, both of them sitting upon it to begin their conversation. "Shall we go down the list, My Lady?" Formalis asked, keeping her tone neutral, though the blush was still clearly present on her face.

"Yes, of course. Now, first then," Celestia noted, looking at the clipboard. "Twilight Sparkle..."