//------------------------------// // Chapter II: Noctum gladius ets // Story: The return of the Dark Legion // by ringtail_mane //------------------------------// Chapter Two: “Noctum gladius ets” I From Princess Twilight’s library came the noises that signaled a hell of a ruckus: magically she opened a book, checked it and sent it aside, time after time, as she did when was enthusiastic about something. Floor was literally carpeted with books, while her friends watched amused… from a safe place. Spike bring new books but no sooner he had stockpiled them at one side, when Twi was alreading checking them. After a while, the new princess closed the last volume. “Sorry, girls” uttered a defeated Twilight Sparkle “I have checked and rechecked the subject, but haven’t found any references to either sentence or statues. “Can it be” replied Rainbow Dash “That they are ancient than your books?” “I’m afraid so” replied Twilight, “perhaps is something even older than Ponyville itself” “What if it’s something never meant to be known?” mumbled a frightened Fluttershy. “Could well be” said Twilight “There is a lot of dark knowledge out of reach for many but the most gifted and studious and directly forbidden to anypony else. It’s the only thing I can thing about” “Hey, what if you ask Princess Celestia?” said Spike, lifting some books “You have a meeting with her today, don’t you? You could ask her, especially if it’s related with her former castle” “Spike, you are a genius!” laughed Twilight, attracting him with her magic and hugging him happily, making him both happy and blushing “I’ll do so and get answer from a more trusted source. If somebody knows Equestria’s ancient history, that one is her” “We’ll await yer answer impatiently, sugarcube” said Applejack “Better with muffins, wait is sweeter” said Pinkie Pie, munching one; to their collective amazed “how-did-she-do-that” gaze, she raised her eyebrows “What? I bought them before coming!” Hilarity engulfed the room, while Pinkie devoured muffins left and right. II Evening was falling over Canterlot; Twilight approached to Princess Celestia’s castle aboard a carriage like the one that had taken her to Ponyville that first time, also pulled by two robust Pegasis guards. Overflying the castle twice, as protocol demanded, they descended softly, before the main entrance. Twilight debarked, flanked by the reverence of the winged guards. She walked slowly, deliberatedly, toward the ornate, huge doors, whose bronze panels depicted several scenes from Equestria’s long past: the arrival, the migrations, the dreaded Winter Famine and… she blushed: her battles with Nightmare Moon and Discord. Her eyes moistened for a moment: Relentless foes yesterday, her best friends today, notwhitstanding her five beloved companions: Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash … and her sweet Spike. Two elite guards stood at attention before the heavy blades. She remembered well their silver armors, even from the time she was just a student: Cygnus Damocles Squadrons, the best of the best of the Princess Celestia´s personal Royal Guard. “I am here to see Princess Celestia” “Princess Twilight, Her Majesty awaits you” said one of the guards, bowing his armored head. Both Cygnus Damocles stepped aside, bowing deeply their heads as a reverence for the newest princess in Canterlot. The young alicorn didn’t get accustomed yet to the royal treatment given her by every guard and servant in the place… even by those who in days past had been friends, companions and accomplices in her many adventures. Moving downstairs, she arrived to the main hall, where the royal throne formed the cuppola of a cascade of scarlet and mahogany carpets, leading from the hall floor to Princess Celestia’s presence. Equestria’s sovereigness descended to meet the new princess. “Princess Twilight” hailed she with her characteristic smoothing and motherly tone, while she caressed her former student with her head. “I am quite pleased with your arrival. I am glad you have come” “Pleasure is mine as well, my Princess” replied the little alicorn, bowing herself slightly to her former mentor. “Pass, please. I have an exquisite tea and your favorite pastries as well, so we can chat” Leaving the main hall, both alicorns entered into a small but comfortable room with a center table, delicately prepared harbored a Haybarian porcelain tea kettle, specially prepared watercress sandwiches with various Hors D’ouvres and delicate, almost translucent dishes; flanking the luxurious set there was two swan feathers-filled pillows for both princesses to rest. Using her magic, Celestia served tea for both; making themselves comfortable, they drank silently, leaving the tea cups over the table. “Tell me, my dear, is there any affair you’d like to discuss with me?” “In fact, it is” replied Twilight “My friends found something near your former castle and I haven’t been able to find anything in my books that could dispel our doubts… I’d like to know if you can help us with this” “Of course, my little one” replied Celestia, raising her cup to take another drink “What information do you need?” “Well, the first thing we want to know is… who placed a lot of statues amidst a deserted fortification, and the second, if you know what these words mean… ahem… hope to pronounce as it is… ‘Noctum gladius ets” Upon hearing the words, Celestia inmediately spat the tea, almost choking in the attempt; she left the tea cup aside, while ringing a little bell with her magic. A royal guard appeared and flanked her. “Guard, tell my sister, Princess Luna, I request her presence at once” ordered she with an unnatural, stark tone. “Aye, Your Highness!” replied the guard, leaving the hall at once. Twilight was confused; never before had seen such a change of mood in her mentor. “I am sorry, Princess Celestia, I apologize. It wasn’t my intention to offend you or anger you in any way” whispered she, lowering her head. Celestia approached Twilight, caressing her right shoulder with her right forehoof. “Nothing to be ashamed of or to offer apologies for, Princess Twilight” said Celestia, retaking her sweet tone “You just touched something even I had forgot for a long time; this is the moment to resolve it. I’m afraid we’ll finish this tea in another moment”. Princess Celestia raised, returning to the throne room, followed by her faithful student, now with more questions than answers. III Both princesses returned to the throne room; Celestia returned to her throne with Twilight beside her. Once they sat, Equestria’s sovereigness began to talk with her disciple. “One of the duties you will have as princess is to face challenges that will put your courage, strength and beliefs to an acid test, as I did in her moment with my sister. This story comes from the dawn of Equestria itself: our nation was passing one of its most critical moments: as a new princess, you are in the duty of knowing all about our kingdom, its dark history included” Nearly at the same time Celestia finished her speech, Princess Luna arrived, her stature serious and refined at the same time, but her fine features veiled by a subtle expression of concern. “Princess Twilight Sparkle, it’s a delight to have you among us once again” began she, doing a reverence, as protocol demands “Sister, I received your call and I came at once; what affair requires my presence so immediately?” “Approach further, my beloved sister; we must talk about something that pertains us both, especially you… something that cannot be delayed further” Luna neared the throne, so as to finish almost face-to-face with her sister. Twilight was between them, watching attentively, eager to know what followed. “Noctum gladius ets” whispered solemnly the ruler of Equestria Luna was shocked upon hearing the phrase, an uttering ancient as time, but one she remembered perfectly well. “Tia…… do you mean…….the Dark Legion? “Yes, little sister, I refer to them” Twilight observed both, having no idea of what were they talking about. Celestia turned to see her disciple and began to talk again, remembering eons old events. “See, Twilight, centuries ago, when Canterlot was a young kingdom, we lived a very dangerous time, practically in war with every other kingdom, country or colony, we faced multiple enemies… danger was present day and night, our lives all –both rulers and people- in perpetual risk; Royal Guard itself wasn’t enough for our permanent protection. As an aditional measure for our safety, two elite groups were created, far older than Cygnus Damocles itself: For my protection and under my command was the Golden Legion. For Luna’s protection, under her direct command was... the Dark Legion!” “Dark Legion was one of the many armies I have had the privilege of commanding” said Princess Luna “Strong, stalwart warriors, always ready to give their lives for me and the kingdom. I commanded them in countless battles, from all of which we emerged triumphant. They were famous – and dreaded – because they never retreated and didn’t stop before anything or anyone till their objective was achieved. They knew how to strike fear in our foes’ hearts and respect among our allies: the Gryphon Empire, Procyonia, Swandor, Aerie, Vulperia*… They were commanded by a mighty unicorn, legendary General Grey Shadow, a superb military strategist, who led the Legion to victory after victory against our enemies. Always loyal, always obedient, he was beside me in even the worst moments, following all my orders without a complaint. A warrior as I never had seen before, utterly devoted to my personal protection. He created the oath of the Dark Legion, and wrote it in an ancient, elfic-like language spoken a long time ago in Canterlot… it was like this: “Night is my sword, Moon is my shield, Darkness my armor, Stars my cloak; let our enemies fear the night, our friends respect it and our protected ones venerate it, we will defend the honor and glory of our kingdom and our princess, we will offer our own life before surrendering to the enemy, long life to the night, long life to Princess Luna, long life to Equestria” *Kingdoms of Raccoons, Swans, Eagles and Foxes (more details coming soon) “Even so” Luna paused briefly “that loyalty was their doom as well” “Wha… what happened, Princess Luna?” Asked Twilight terrified. “Nightmare Moon” said Celestia, complementing her sister. “When I… I turned into Nightmare Moon, I adressed the Dark Legion and ordered them to swear loyalty to their new sovereigness; for my surprise, all the legion -and Grey Shadow as well- did so, because their tradition commanded them to follow their new princess, no questions asked. The order they received was…” Luna hesitated, full of shame for her following words “….destroy Canterlot, raze all in their path, spread darkness and destruction across all Equestria… that order was to be fulfilled once I defeated Celestia, so they were to await me to direct the final strike or continue, and avenge me, if I fell in battle. Nevertheless, I was defeated and banished to the moon. From there on, I didn´t know what happened; I had forgotten their very existence, till now you mention them. I guess they were defeated a long time ago and they only exist in… oblivion” finished she, meekly. “Not exactly” said Celestia “You don’t know the rest of the story” Luna turned to face her sister, amazement permeating her face, almost demanding to know what had happened, what was that part of the tale she ignored and that soon would be revealed. Celestia retook the story from the point Luna had finished it and began to evocate the ancient memories once again… “Well, you see, after I… banished you to the moon, the Golden Legion came with the news of Dark Legion’s orders, so I raced to meet them before their attack was launched. I tried to persuade them of the futility of their orders, that Nightmare Moon had been defeated, that they should surrender… but all was in vain: their oath forced them to follow their orders to the hilt: since they were determined to continue that madness, they left me no choice… I used the remain of the Elements of Harmony´s magic and turned them into stone, and they have been so for more than a millenium. I ordered all their records must be destroyed and their legacy hidden, so our subjetcs, our people, would never know their heroes had turned into traitors, jeoparding thus the fragile peace we had finally obtained after all those years of war and bloodshed… “Then, they are still alive?!?” Luna sprang to her hoves in a blink “ALIVE?!?” “Aye, my sister, indeed they are but their loyalty to your former self makes them twice as dangerous; that’s why I haven’t freed them. I must acknowledge that, with the pass of centuries, I had forgotten them completely; even so, their worst punishment is to have been erased form their own people’s memory, the people they had sworn to protect. Now you are back, though, we can seek a solution, so we can free them from their stone slumber. “The less we can do, sister” nodded Luna “After all, is my fault for them to be in such a state” “Princess Twilight” Celestia turned to her disciple “It´s my wish that you and your friends come with us; perhaps we will need your help to face this” “Of course, Your Highness” nodded Twilight “I’ll seek them all at once and return in no time. We can meet in the premises of the old castle” “So be it, go on and take care of yourself, my faithful student” smiled Celestia Twilight made a sligth reverence to the princesses and departed at full gallop, leaving Luna and Celestia alone in the main hall. Once the Young alicorn left the place both went to their rooms. “Prepare your best elements from the Night Guard” ordered Celestia “I’ll check my own; we’ll go this very evening” Both sisters walked one beside the other, in silence. Suddenly, Luna broke the uncomfortable, tense silence. “You know that persuade them will not be easy, don’t you? I know them well; for sure they’d prefer death first and will not fall without a fight… and that could be a butchery among the Royal Guard” “I hope and pray, we shan’t have to reach such extremes, my sister” sighed Celestia “Just the thought of combat against them frightens me, remembering what they could do with their enemies in battle” “I agree. Their fame, the all-conquering fear they instilled, even within the kingdom… I know that… very well” Both retired to their bedrooms by different aisles, but with a single thought in mind. END OF CHAPTER TWO