#Golden_Order

[arcs-journal]

The History of the Royal Guard

Given my chosen occupation, I have decided that it might be best for me to begin with the history of the Royal Guard of Canterlot, we who protect the thrones and their princesses. I will be covering as much as I can on both of Equestria's official Guard Corps, and leaving what I know of the Crystal Knights and the budding guard corps under Princess Sparkle for another entry.

The Royal Guard corps are shrouded in both honour, admiration and controversy, if you ask historians anyway. Most ponies know of the Royal Guard as golden clad soldiers that serve and protect both princesses and the people. However, there's much more to us than just our golden armour and parade lines. The Guard goes all the way back to before the Royal Sisters. In fact, they're an offshoot initially of Princess Platinum's personal guard, who originally clad themselves in steel and silver.

It's important to note Platinum's guardians were all unicorns, as the times were rather uncivilised and racism and classism ran rampant between the three pony tribes. Therefore, their armour was, largely, ceremonial more than useful in a protective stance, and instead focused on the gemstones imprinted in them to store excess mana in for larger and longer spellcasting. Later, they joined forces with Commander Hurricane's military upon the alliance of the tribes, and pegasi became more common within the Guard ranks, and were prized for their speed, agility and bravery. Earth Ponies were the last to join, and only after a long fought battle for true equality between themselves and their fellow ponies.

After the forced famine to prove their worth, Earth Ponies were inducted into the Guard ranks as well, however they brought in stronger armour and shields into the mix. Whilst shields are not often used even today, there are several Guard ranks specifically trained in their use in the case of sieges and riots, to close off the streets and create chokepoints. Their strength became a huge boon to the Corps. These separate ranks of guard, as each was still segregated into pony species at the time, though allied closely, were eventually combined into one united militant front under the sisters Luna and Celestia, who came in to save Equestria from several different threats. Over time, Celestia and Luna agreed that the night and day shifts would fall to different corps. Thus, the Night and Day corps were created, and the Thestral species was discovered. Luna took a special love to these nocturnal ponies, and welcomed them wholeheartedly into her guard, with them almost worshipping her.

Then, tragedy. Luna's fall. The Thestral guards fought for their Queen, and as a result were forced to flee upon her defeat. It was then the Celestian Guard, the Golden Order as it was called, was created. This order swore its existence into serving and protecting Celestia, and evolved into the Celestian Church that we know today, still worshipping her as a goddess. This particular corps ran rampant through the Equestrian society as Princess Celestia fell to her own depression and despair over her sister's fate, even forcing the title of 'Empress' on her and forcing other ponies to bow down to her and worship her. However, when Celestia finally recovered and realised what had happened, she came out with a vengeance, swiftly stomping through the Golden Order like a mare possessed, and not only put a stop to their actions, but demoted, imprisoned and executed several different high ranking guard officers for their acts.

During this time, she took control over the construction of Canterlot, initially set up by the Lord Regent, who had held the highest place in the Golden Order and spoke for the crown, or rather for himself. Gold Sun had ordered the construction of Canterlot, though it went by a different name at the time, and the plans held significant sway towards his religious beliefs. Celestia struck out many of them, restored the respect of the ponies towards her and between themselves, and took a personal hoof in not just directing construction, but helping in construction as well.

The Guard were held to much higher standards once Celestia took control again. She campaigned for the return of the Thestral species, though at the end of it all, it took nearly a thousand years for them to reappear. The guard reformed, a new miltiary was formed as a separate entity, and the Guard gradually became more of a policing force for the entirety of Canterlot and then Equestria. With the return of Princess Luna, the Lunar Guard is returning as well, with several Thestrals returning finally to the spotlight, joined by many ponies, though they are still fledgling, they are working hard to prove themselves once more.

And I think it's excellent to see so many working together again.

If there's anything else you wish to know about the Guard Corps history, please let me know. If this Journal works how it's meant to, in any case.

Signing off Arc