#for the record I am not fully sure how the ranking system works for knights

[greeenchrysanthemums]

I'm so sorry for the spam reblog of your GG rivals au stuff, but!!!! I'M SO. Ahem, I'm so so normal about it (<- lies).

I'm so curious how Gem got her start in the army and how she advanced rank seemingly so quickly! I mean I don't know the ages in this but I assume she's mayyybe in her late twenties? I dunno just a guess, but it also begs the question of when she joined? I mean you said that she always wanted to join the army so I'd imagine her joining at a similar age as Etho. Either way! Geminislay!

I just love this au so much! I'm gonna think about it all the time ♡

Hello! It's so exciting to get asks for this au! I'm so glad that people seem to like it so much. And not to worry, I quite enjoying seeing everyone being so excited about my au in my notifications. It is a delight.

As for your question:

She did join the army at around the same age Etho had, so maybe 16-17 (he is 9 or so years older than her here).

After leaving her hometown and enlisting, she became Impulse's squire. This was where she met Scott as well. He was a friend of Impulse's, and therefore she naturally seen a lot of him. They all grew close very quickly.

Right from the start, she showed exceptional swordsmanship, as well as brilliant organizational skills. She was quick-witted and a natural leader capable of taking charge in stressful situations, so her climb in rank was only natural.

Her first promotion was, coincidentally, because of Grian. She was only a few months into her stay at the castle when an explosion was set off in the courtyard and the weapons room was broken in to. While everyone else was panicked and unsure of what to do, she stepped up and led evacuation efforts before running off on her own to face Grian. She was the only one who managed to stop him from taking a great deal of weaponry, and even had him restrained for a period of time before he escaped. This bumped her right up into knighthood, where she was finally able to serve beside her friends instead of under them.

She would remain a knight for several years after that, and she was regularly assigned to deal with all things Grian since she seemed to be the only one capable of subduing him. It was never anything as grand as breaking into the castle again, but she helped stop her fair share of riots, and ran him out of town before he could start anything all together.

Her next major promotion wouldn't be until she was around 23-24. She ended up fighting in a war with a neighboring kingdom (more details on that another time, I do not want to spoil everything too quickly) in which she took charge of many battles, as well as worked with the previous commander to formulate strategies.

She was at first seen as arrogant and cocky by her peers for how quick she was to input her own ideas and boss them around, but that didn't last very long as it became evident that she knew what she was doing. In fact, she quickly became highly respected, maybe even a little feared, for how deadly and efficient she was.

Following the death of the previous commander during the war, Ren only saw it fit that he give the title and responsibilities over to her despite her young age. She had more than proved herself time and time again, and there was no one better for the job.

[ask-de-writer]

The Knights of Justice (Part 1 of 3) : An MLP Fan Fiction

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Return to MLP Fan Fiction

THE KNIGHTS OF JUSTICE

by

De Writer (Glen Ten-Eyck)

Cover Art by The Whisper Sisters, now Wind the Mama Cat

© 2014 by Glen Ten-Eyck

6842 words

Writing begun 08/27/14

All rights reserved.  This document may not be copied or distributed on or to any medium or placed in any mass storage system except by the express written consent of the author.

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Copyright fair use rules for Tumblr users

Users of Tumblr.com are specifically granted the following rights.  They may reblog the story.  They may use the characters or original characters in my settings for fan fiction, fan art works, cosplay, or fan musical compositions.  I will allow those who do commission art works to charge for their images.

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Prologue: This tale takes place about 4000 years in the past of the modern MLP canon. During this time, Celestia and Luna are still fillies, though close to grown physically. The events here recorded are part of the foundation of the modern kingdom of Equestria.  Specifically, this tale begins what are now known as THE DAYS OF FORTRESS CANTERLOT and the founding of the Knights of Justice.

.

For more background information on the canon of this tale, please read:

De Writer and the Orb of the Ages

Hearthwarming Eve / Starvation’s Night

From Darkness to Dawn

Fortress Canterlot!

De Writer’s Tale (a narrative poem)

The Coming of Tam O’Canter and Heather Bloom O’Red Hoof to Ponyville

De Writer canon (part 1)

De Writer canon (part 2)

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The Great Hall of Camarg was in an uproar.  The King, with his Queen beside him had to raise his scepter to demand quiet.  That was enforced by the Herald's trumpet blast and call of, “Their Majesties demand silence!  It is understood that you have complaint to lay before them.  This shall be done in an orderly and civil fashion!

“This is a Royal Court, not a village commons!

“Baron Sir Salten, I believe that your business was first.  From what I am hearing in this unseemly clamor, most of you have similar cases to bring.

“Listen to Baron Sir Salten. If your case is similar to his, go to the left of the room.

“In this way, we can speed up this mess.”

The King of Camarg raised his wings impressively where he sat his throne and intoned, “Baron Sir Salten, what is it that has you here before me?”

The Baron doffed his steel chanfron helmet and stepped forward, limping a little.  “I shall be blunt, Your Majesty.  I have been robbed.  My guards were driven off, my tax wagon taken and emptied of all the casks of dried fruits, nuts, and grains that it carried.

“I led an expedition of armed force against the robbers and was driven away!  Salten needs assistance to stop this incursion!”

The King, Camarg II, of Camarg, tilted his head and gave Salten a hard stare.  While he was doing so, more than half of the Noble  Pegassi and Unicorns had gone to the left of the room.

Camarg II, King of Camarg did not hold his position by being entirely stupid.  He whispered to a page near him.  That pony retreated and returned shortly.  He handed the king a scroll.

He sat on his throne and reviewed the contents of the scroll carefully.  Several in the Court were reminded that this was not just show.  Camarg was literate.  He looked up with a small, tight smile and pronounced, “It appears that you are not being fully honest with me, Salten.  Your taxes were reported as fully collected and the Royal Levy taken.

“How then, can it be that you are robbed of the contents of a TAX WAGON?”

A number of those who had gone to the left, quietly sneaked back to the right side of the Great Hall.

“My Liege!  You are ignoring the important issue of Fealty!  I have been attacked and you must, by oath support me with arms!”

“Salten, Salten,” Camarg said dismissively, “Fealty works TWO WAYS.  You are to support Me by the Royal Levy in time of peace.  In turn, I am to support you in time of war or famine.

“YOU ARE FORBIDDEN to collect any tax without a Royal Dispensation, to be sure of the proper distribution of the Levy.

“I agree, in principle, that Salten needs armed support.  I will investigate FIRST this fraud of the taxes.  I was about to call you to Court, when you came on your own.  The villages of Roachmane and Tailswitch have both sent ranking burgers to complain of being taxed twice.”

“They do mention the force that defeated you.  Two pegassi, two unicorns and four earth ponies.  Not exactly an invading army.  

“According to the burgers, the unicorns of this force marked all the chests and casks by magic when they returned everything to the villages.  They advised the villagers to come to My Court for redress.  Again, not precisely the actions of a hostile force at arms.”

Queen Megan spoke softly from her throne.  “Salten, I have seen the reports and spoken to the burgers of Roachmane and Switchtail.  They say that when you were driven off, that you were trying to bring back the tax wagon to take what was not yours for the second time.”

Behind them, down the Great Hall, the removal to the right again became a near stampede.

The Queen put it simply.  “You are seeking to manipulate Fealty to gain Our help an unlawful collection of a Levyless tax.

“You seek to gain Our assistance in robbing both Us and your own tenants at the same time.”

Multicolored light from the stained glass windows shone on the left side of the hall, where no noble ponies were.

The Queen's sardonic glance took in that fact.  She declared, “We have received a goodly number of similar complaints.  They are all from villages on the side of the kingdom facing the Sunlord's old land.  There is a new power rising there.

“Far up a steep mountain side in that empty land is a mighty fortress named Canterlot.  The Sunlord attacked that fortress.  In only a few battles, he was not only defeated, he was destroyed.  We have not moved to try taking any of the land that was his.  It is now under the sway of the Fortress Canterlot.”

She stared down the nobles most known for their fractious and warlike behavior.  One, Count Wilton, squirming a bit under the Queen's pitiless stare, replied, “Your Majesties, perhaps we are being too timid here.  They must be severely depleted after defeating the Sunlord.  Now could be the advantageous time to strike and strike hard!  We have much to gain and little to lose!”

King Camarg gave him an amused and dismissive glance.  “Thought of, Wilton.  Investigated and decided against after receiving factual reports.

“We sent a delegation under truce to Canterlot.  They are ruled by two Princesses.  Besides finding that their standing army is over four times ours, our delegation discovered that the entire army is composed of volunteers, largely from the Sunlord's old forces.  They are also fanatically loyal to the Princesses.

“Those Princesses personally led the battles where the Sunlord was, first defeated and then, when he would not give up his tactic of murdering the wounded, they destroyed him.  Personally.  On the field of battle.

“More, they gathered the fallen, regardless of side, and did their best to heal all of the injuries of misfortune or war.  That is part of where the fanatical loyalty comes from.  They do not just lead battle, they heal its aftermath.”

Queen Megan picked up, “That healing is not limited to upper classes or warriors, either.  After the Sunlord was defeated, they sent their army back up his line of march.  Their orders, which were followed, were to help rebuild or repair houses, barns, byres.  To see what could be saved of orchards, vineyards and crops.  Wounded, sick or injured peasants were taken to Canterlot and healed if possible.

“To the Princesses in Canterlot, justice and fair treatment extend to all, even donkeys.” She shook her head at the bizarre notion.

Briskly, King Camarg replied, “That could be seen as a great weakness but I have to wonder about that.  Remember, Salten, the force that drove off your armored fighters was only four earth ponies, two unicorns and two pegassi. The puzzle is simple.  Why  more earth ponies than either of the groups that are capable fighters?

“Perhaps we can have our answer soon.  As we sent a delegation to Canterlot under truce, so also have they.  I had word that they have arrived a short while ago.”

The herald's trumpets blasted a fanfare.  The lead Herald called out, “Make Way for the Delegation from the Twin Crowns of the Equestrian Lands of Fortress Canterlot!” The large doors of Great Hall opened.

The delegation from Canterlot entered the throne room of Camarg.  They were led by a dark mare, easily as large and light of build as a horse.  Her color was hard to determine.  Black?  Dark blue?  Try the color between the stars of a clear midnight sky.  She had a horn, long narrow and straight, far longer than the horn of any unicorn pony.  Along her sides were folded the largest wings that any there had ever seen.

She wore a simple crown of gold, enameled with the same blue as herself and bearing the emblem of a crescent moon.  It matched her flank marks and the great pectoral necklace that she also wore.

Her mane and tail were long and flowing, the same midnight hue as herself.  They rippled like a wind blew them and there were stars to be seen in them, though the constellations were strange.  Her hooves on the stone pave, before she came to the carpet runner that led to the throne, were silent.

It was as if a dream had walked into the daylight of the throne room.  Behind her were two unicorns, one brown and one blue.  Two pegassi in war harness, Chanfron helmets doffed, followed them.

They followed the Dark Mare to the foot of the Throne dais.

There, the Dark Mare, knelt into a curtsy.  Both unicorns bowed.  Both pegassi curtsied.

Camarg was wise enough not to insult them by making them wait.  “Arise and be recognized.”

Courteously, the vision of a Dark Mare replied, “I do thank you, Your Royal Majesty.  My name is Princess Luna of the Equestrian Lands of Fortress Canterlot, Guardian of the Night, Keeper of Dreams and the True Embodiment of All Nightmare.  These, my followers are: my Foster Father De Writer, the inventor of that art which you find so useful.  Justice Truth Keeper, to whom a lie is impossible.  Wing Commander of our Royal Pegassi, Swift Feather and Wing Commander  of our Royal Pegassi, Bright Cloud.

“We are here at the invitation of your Royal Delegation to discuss proper bounds, boundaries and the enforcement of Just Law.

“If I may say so, your Royal Majesty, we have made a study of your Law and find it mostly fair and just.  It has but one great flaw.”

Camarg looked skeptically across at the disturbingly tall Princess, so unlike any creature of his experience.  He, on a throne atop a three step dais, was at her eye level.  His Queen Megan was also discomfited by Luna's size but wise enough to ignore it.

Sounding truly interested, she inquired, “And what, Princess Luna, is that flaw in our law?”

Luna smiled at her and Queen Megan found herself actually at ease with her strange visitor. Luna's reply was, “You were just dealing with that flaw when we arrived.  It is not the law that is at fault.  It is those entrusted to administer and carry out that law in a fair and just fashion.

“Your taxes, for instance, are reasonable and well divided according to the types of work done and crops that are raised.  Not only do those monies and goods support yourselves and your nobles, a portion is set aside for relief of your populace in famine or disaster.  All of this is wise and well designed.

“Baron Salten's unlawful tax expedition is an example of the  problem.  First, the Barons gather the tax, which is all properly accounted and your Levy taken.  Later, without your knowledge or authorization, a second tax is taken, solely for the benefit of the Barons and Knights of the Realm.  This second tax, they call the “Gleaning,” so that if, in speaking of it, they are overheard, it will sound innocent.

“On our way here, we did interrupt Baron Salten's unlawful gleaning.  Since both the Law and Honor of our Hosts, your Royal selves, were at stake, we took the liberty of disrupting the crime and returning the stolen goods to their rightful owners.

“My followers, here, begged me the boon of correcting this wrong and I granted it.

“If I have erred in this action, proper redress shall be made from the supplies of Canterlot.”

Queen Megan thought for only a second before replying, “The only error, there was not time enough to amend.  You had not Our Royal permission.  We here grant that the need of swift justice and honorable action were paramount.  You are forgiven that and thanked for your well carried out and restrained response.”

Luna bowed her head gracefully and said, “We thank you.  All that we have heard of your Honor and Grace are upheld by this.”

Baron Salten, outraged, bawled out, “They attacked us without cause!  We did no thing to them! When we came back, over fifty strong, to seek revenge for unprovoked attack, they drove us off!”

Bright Cloud began to chuckle and then laugh outright.

In moments, Swift Feather broke into a smile, grin and began to chuckle too.  King Camarg looked on, bemused for a moment and then requested, “Perhaps you can let us all in on the source of your levity?  It has been a mostly unpleasant session of Court so far and I could use a laugh.”

/////TO BE CONTINUED/////