//------------------------------// // History Returns // Story: Tale of Two: Guard and Adventurer // by Mega NewWays97 //------------------------------// >Canterlot Gardens< There was nothing. I could not see, feel, smell, I couldn’t even breath. I felt a pressure on my chest, trying to crush me. I try to scream as my old friend pain decides to make itself known. I struggle as I feel something give and the sound of something crumbling fills my ears. As it progresses I find myself tumbling from what seems like a pedestal. I grunt as I fall to the ground. My face deciding the grass was a comfy place to be this time of day. After a few minutes of trying to control my breathing, and sort my thoughts I try to move. With what seems like a titanic effort I push myself to a sitting position, and view my surroundings. “Where the hell am I?” I whisper as I see a guard turn a corner coming towards me, his armor glistening in the light of the torch he carried. I steady my breathing as the torch illuminates me to him. I weakly wave him over when he stalls several feet from me. I clench my sides and cover my mouth as a sudden jolt of pain shoots through me, as it peaks I start coughing violently. Bringing my hand away from my mouth I see a generous amount of blood coated the gloved appendage. The guard, seeing the blood seems to have come to a conclusion, and rushes to my side. “Look, I have no idea who you are, or why you’re here. You are under arrest for trespassing on castle grounds after hours, and destroying the crown’s property, but for now let’s get you to the medical wing.” I was about to give the rookie a mouthful, but before I could another spasm of pain wracked my body. As I continued to cough I felt the stallion pick me up in his arms grunting as he did so, and then held me like a damn damsel. I could feel myself slipping away, so I asked one question to make sure I could find this stallion later, and kick his ass for not showing the proper respect. “What’s your name?” I whisper. “Shining Armor, and you have a right to remain silent.” I heard him say, before my vision went black. >Shining Armor< “How is she doc?” I ask as I stood outside the room with the trespasser, a unicorn stallion with a clipboard in his hands having just exited said room. The stallion pauses for a moment before telling me, “Give me an hour in my office to check over the information acquired, and you’ll have your answers.” With that the stallion left me to my thoughts. With a sigh I lean back against the wall and cross my arms. I look into the room as I pondered what I knew. While protocol stated that I should be back patrolling the grounds in case of any other trespassers, this wasn’t something I could overlook. I have caught a multitude of trespassers trying to sneak into the castle before, and some even needed medical attention after the confrontation. When this happened I would drop them off here at the guard infirmary, and continue on with my rounds. Hay, some of them even damaged statues like this one did. None of them however, wore armor made for a captain of the royal guard. If it was anything less than this I would have turned in the object as evidence at her trial, but armor for a captain is designed specifically to fit the captain’s frame. Not only that, armor made for a captain is incompatible with any other individual but the one it was made for. I pull myself out of my musings as the doctor returned, “She has several broken ribs. I have been unable to remove the armor from her, as it seems to nullify magic and there is no visible way to remove it physically. Despite this I expect her to be walking a day from now, and to be fully recovered by the second.” I stare at him as he delivers the last bit. “Only two days? With several broken ribs I would have expected her to be out for at least a week without healing magic.” “Normally that would be the case, but something seems to be healing her at a monstrous rate even if you compare it to Princess Celestia’s own rate of healing injuries. I don’t know what’s making the healing process accelerate as it is, but that she needed to be healed is what’s troubling me.” “Shining Armor, the armor she has on right now is completely useless, as the runes engraved in it are shattered. However, from what I’ve deduced this armor was created by a master, and was made in a way that nothing short of Princess Celestia striking it would even scratch it. That got my attention, as well as my suspicion, “Wait it’s able to nullify anything short of an alicorn attack, yet it’s destroyed? What has that much power?” This worried me, as I knew the Princess was away so it ruled her out. If it took an attack from somepony on par with her to destroy the trespasser’s armor… “That’s what’s troubling me Shining Armor.”, the doctor started again. “Princess Celestia hasn’t struck another being since Ironhoof, the second captain of the guard. Yet the readings I got tells me that she was indeed struck by such an attack.” “So we’re dealing with an unknown assailant? Also… second captain? Ironhoof was the first captain of the guard.” The doctor pauses for a moment before asking, “How long have you been captain, Shining Armor?” I recognised the guarded tone telling me he didn’t know how much he could tell me. “I was promoted a week ago.” The stallion gives me a look before sighing, “Captain… When the princess returns you might want to ask her for the truth about the first captain. Now I’d suggest you get back to your patrol before somepony notices your absence. It wouldn’t look good on your record to have an unfinished patrol a week after you were promoted.” I look at the doctor, then glance at the trespasser through the window of her room. ‘Was she running from something?’ I thought, as I turn back to the doctor. After a moment I finally say, “Send somepony for me when she wakes up.” I then grab my spear, and head out to finish my patrol. For the ponies the Everfree forest was a strange place, where monsters and dangerous creatures inhabited. However unknown to anypony the everfree forest was the home to someone. Deep within the forests themselves stood a cave with a stoned being. Creaks slowly formed on the ancient statue. Walking down the way was a creature that looked right at home in everfree forest. He was a miss match of dozens of creatures. However this wasn’t any average everfree being. “I can’t believe Nightmare was that stupid, oh well Tia gets Lulu back.” He said as he walked up to the cave. The creature paused as he saw the stone finally give way. “It can’t be.” the miss match being said as he caught the now free being. “Discord.” The being said weakly, as he fell unconscious. The creature now known as Discord picked him up. His face in shocked. “If you're freed that means...” Discord and the being were gone in a flash, teleported to Discord’s residence. All around was different objects, gold, and gems. There were swords, armor pieces, potions, and spell books scattered across the room. Discord placed him down and pulled out a few potions. I awoke on a bed made of plants and furs. As I sat up I gave a hiss. My body was very stiff, not moving for so long really took its toll. “Allen... you're awake.” I heard a familiar voice. Discord my friend and fellow adventurer. “Discord, so how long has it been?” I asked as a vile entered my vision from the smell it was a soup mixed with a lesser healing potion. My stomach rumbled as I realized how hungry and tired I was. I took it from him and drank it. Discord looked away and Whispered something. “Sorry, I couldn't make that out.” Discord turned to me. “A thousand years.” Wow thats a long time to be imprisoned in stone. Stupid curse. “So I take it that you been staying here for that long?” I asked. Discord gave me a look and nodded. “As far as Tia’s concerned I rule the Everfree Forest.” Discord said with a laugh. With my energy returned to me I stood up. I picked out a huge sword and strapped it to my back. Having high speed regeneration really had its advantages. “Well then were the nearest settlement?” I asked Discord. He thought it over for a moment. “There a little town called Ponyville nearby, I occasionally take on the form of a pony to walk in there to get supplies.” Discord said. I turned to him as I fixed my outfit. The armor was in place as was the cape. My gloves and boots I made sure to clean out. “Let’s get going then. I’m sure Celestia would want to see us again, and besides my sister should be free as well. After all it was the same curse that got us both.” I said. Discord nodded as we walked out heading for the edge of everfree forest. Seems the beasts knew who Discord was, as they barely made an appearance. Man I was really looking forward to a fight. We finally came to edge of the forest and saw the town itself. “Lets go introduce ourselves then.”