//------------------------------//
// Chapter 2: Welcome to Basic 
// Story: The Unicorn Wars: Equestria 
// by Constellation 
//------------------------------//



The sun bore down on my back as I walked out the gate of my yard, my family still standing
where I left them, I walked on not looking back heading straight for town, slowly they went to 
work, trying not to think about where I was going. I rounded the corner that went through the
forest and my house disappeared from sight, the chilling shadows passed over me and soon even the
sound of work at the farm was replaced by birds singing and brooks babbling.

*SNAP*

I stopped dead in my tracks, something was in the forest and it was watching me, following 
me. I turned toward where the sound came from and saw it, blue, the kind of blue that didn't appear in 
the forest naturally, then I heard a sword being pulled from a sheath and saw the blue form 
move.

Then two stallions burst out of the underbrush, a green one with the sword and the blue 
one was charging a magical attack.

Rolling I dodged the flame that burst from his horn charring the ground I was standing on,
then the one with the sword took a swing at me, I stepped back with ease, these two where
very poorly trained, me and my brother use to train all the time and I liked to think I was pretty
good, stepping forward while he attempted to regain his balance I grabbed his sword with my 
magic and pulled it from his grasp, then I slashed him across his chest, he fell to the ground
letting out his last breath as his blood began to pool.

At that moment the sword was blown from my grasp by a ball of ice the size of my head,
I spun around just in time to shoot down the next one with my own fire, but the bandit was 
not done yet and I barely jumped away from his next flame spell, in response I sent a lighting
bolt arching down his body, frying his skin and charring his internal organs, with a surprised
look on his burnt face he collapsed to the ground dead.

With the bandits dead I continued down the road, I wasn't hurt but that was not the easiest thing 
I had done, I had killed bandits before when they attacked my family's farm, but my brother and
father had been there and had easily done most of the work.

I continued down the path toward town, Maximus had said that he would meet me in the 
"sleepy Unicorn", his family's tavern, but I knew he couldn't wait all day so I picked up the 
pace, double timing it toward town.

In a small amount of time I could see Mr, Steel Plow's farm and the town gate just past it,
trotting into town passing the wood mill I made my way toward the Sleepy Unicorn where my
life time friend Maximus waited, I walked through the door and instantly spotted my friend 
siting at the far table in the darkest corner alone.

"Hey, Maximus,"I said, walking up to him."hows things going?"

"Not good,"He replied."my mothers been crying all day."

"Yeah, my mother did the same,"I said in an understanding way."but, this is what I have to do."

"Same here,"Maximus agreed."but I don't want her to worry about me."

"I get that,"I said, in finish I added."well get up, we only have four hours to get there."

"Yeah, lets go."Maximus said.

Off we went toward the southern gate, and as we walked down the path winding
through the wood we were joined by others all making their way to the camp, slowly the
sun went toward the west and the day grew late, and the now rather large group finely found
themselves outside of the huge recruitment camp, there where no walls, just row after row 
of white tents, in the middle of the camp was one tent larger then the rest flying the flag of 
the empire, and the banner of the battalion "The Iron Battalion", as we entered camp we where 
met by a lieutenant who escorted us to the captain, we where all asked for our papers which
held our orders, they where gone through before the captain addressed the new recruits.

"Alright,"The captain said standing up."all the papers check out, follow the lieutenant that 
brought you here to get your standard issue gear. Oh and welcome to basic."