Golden Shield

By Convergence

• February 7, 2014

Age: 20

Gender: Male

Species: Unicorn

Appearance: A tan unicorn of slightly below average height and weight. His medium length mane and tail are brown with a streak of dark gold down the centre.

Cutie Mark: A golden kite shield which at the centre is engraved with half of the sun joined with half of the moon, forming a continuous circle. This cutie mark displays Golden Shield's desire to be a protector for all of Equestria, but it also portrays his isolation from civilization.

Personality: Golden Shield is extremely introverted and disjointed from civilization. He often appears cold hearted and cynical to strangers, but those who get to know him understand that he just does not understand other ponies feelings. As long as Golden Shield has time for contemplation he is happy, and thus does not comprehend how small problems or words could hurt ponies.<br /><br />Best described as a philosopher, Golden Shield is constantly lost in his own thoughts. His demeanour is constantly level-headed and logical, and his emotions are always hidden. When a large problem emerges, it dominates Golden Shield's thoughts and he will devise a master plan to solve it, although he often lacks the strength to solve it himself.

Backstory: Survival: The New World <br /><br />At one point, Golden Shield was a soldier. A knight of the Royal Guard no less. His intelligence made him a natural strategist. His extravagantly simple tactics had been proven numerous times to be extremely effective, and ruthless.<br /><br />To Golden Shield, his life was extremely boring. Perhaps being a strategist would have proven more challenging if he had more competent opponents. He did not. Golden Shield felt that his strengths were wasted at the Royal Guard, so he resigned and set out to answer life's greatest questions. He didn't know what those where, but he would think of them.<br /><br />Other ponies only proved to be a distraction and books did not hold knowledge. They jut held the biased thoughts of the author; they where of no help to Golden Shield. Civilization had nothing for Golden Shield.<br /><br />Golden Shield left Canterlot one day, when he had enough of the ceaseless interruptions from other ponies. He left without so much as a saddlebag. He walked for what seemed like ages until he came across a large forest, and for some reason was drawn into its dark interior. <br /><br />He learned how to survive and how to live off the land from other animals. Through intense observation, he determined what food was edible and what to be scared of. Through trial and error he learned how to light fires and how to build shelters. The wilderness of the great forest quickly became Golden Shield's home. <br /><br />For years Golden Shield simply sat and thought. Various topics that began to blur together and build open each other. He learned of the pony mind and body, the nature of life and much more. He knew one day that he would return to civilization when he had learned enough.<br /><br />Then it happened. It seemed like the world had gone crazy. Earth quakes shook the forests, felling trees and bushes. The animals that Golden Shield knew and had come to love had started dying at an alarming rate. Every now and then, Golden Shield had encountered vicious beasts he had never seen before. Somehow, Golden Shield did not die. <br /><br />He knew that he had to return to civilization, or he would die in that forest. It was only a matter of time. Golden Shield walked for what seemed like ages. He didn't know where he was going, and he didn't know if there was any civilization to return to. <br /><br />A strange sound, almost like the buzz of a massive bee, broke Golden Shield's concentration. The next thing he knew, his eyelids grew extremely heavy, and he could not keep his eyes open. Everything slowly grew darker, until there was only black.