//------------------------------// // Parthica // Story: Legio VII: Invictus // by Silbern //------------------------------// A striking figure. Intimidating, fierce, authoritative and pure awe inspiring. It was a few words that Celestia has heard through the many years that she lived when times required that she would wear such a thing. She stood before her mirror and gazed upon her figure. Thick plate armour painted white with golden gilded memorials of wars gone past. Faceless Pegasi wings jut from her pauldrons in intricate, masterwork fashion that would make any blacksmith or metal worker shake in the knees with jealousy. Ribbons held in place by wax scroll in an ancient language of her praise but when Celestia finally took in her appearance, all she could think was of death. Before the elements of Harmony, there was only battle. When words failed to conference peace, there was the sword. When the Dictator found power, there was arrows, shattered shields and misery. None of those ponies lived besides her and her dearest Sister. She alone carried the torch of so many and even if many would think she looked absolutely majestic in her armour, all she could see was the blood that was impossible to wash off. With a heave of her magic she also raised an artifact of her past that has killed both usurper and dictator. A loud clang rang out in the dressing room as Celestia rested her personal halberd on her side. Light of Vengeance. The weapon itself was made with the embers of dragon rock. A total of five master weapon smiths had worked upon it and to this day, it has remained in almost pristine condition but much like her armour, Celestia knew better. It may seem almost perfect but it was dirty just like anything else from her past. All of this brought upon her the memories of old and the scars that they wrought. “Celestia?” A knock echoed into the room and than a gasp. Celestia spotted Lucius with an agape mouth. She turned with loud hoof steps that echoed as metal seemed to crash against metal. The Princess waited for him to speak but as the moments dragged on she gave a soft cough which seemed to pull him out of his stupor. Lucius still didn't mutter a word however as he took a few careful steps towards her and ran his fingers along her armour. “This is gorgeous,” Celestia let out a sigh. “It is but metal,” “No this,” Lucius said as he tapped his own armour. “This is just metal. What you are wearing is something I have never seen before,” Celestia closed her eyes and as one, her mane seemed to slow its usual flow. Her head lowered and her own voice seemed to be stuck in her throat. “What's wrong?” Lucius paused as he slid his hand across her face to cup her cheek. “You've seen this armour once before,” Celestia manage to choke out. “I don't understand,” Lucius admitted only to see Celestia look at him with fresh tears. “I was wearing this when we first met, my Love,” Celestia admitted as she pushed past his form with heavy footsteps. “This armour is soaked in so much blood that I can't see it as anything else but filthy,” Lucius listened as he tried his hardest to remember. He recalled the battle but the last moments were still foggy. The moment that he was turned to stone however was still fresh. Nothing in his life had him endure such pain. “Thousands of Humans, Ponies, Gryphons, Horses and even Dragons. I've shed blood for millenniums, Lucius, but after our fated battle I found a happiness. For over two hundred years, Equestria had known true peace and even though I have spent nights gazing at your stone encased figure, I could sleep knowing Ponies knew serenity. Why can't I have happiness?” Lucius watched in shock as Celestia crashed her large polearm through the door to see it shatter into both metal and wooden fragments. The metal head of the Halberd was ignited in a fiery orange flame and the Centurion thought for a moment he could see a spark or two from the Princess's mane as it rapidly started to flow. “Do I not deserve happiness? Have I not done my best to ensure that Ponies could live peacefully?” Celestia fumed as her sadness turned to rage and frustration. “Celestia?” Lucius asked as he tried to outstretch his hand towards he but all he got was a stomp of her hoof to shake the ground. “I have sacrificed much for Equestria. I even banned my own sister for a thousand summers!” The Princess fumed. “All I want is for the land is peace. Why is conflict the only thing I seem to bring?” Lucius jumped into action as tried to grasp Celestia's seething anger towards him. There was only a small amount of things that the Roman Soldier regretted in his life, and this action he almost wanted to add to the list. He witnessed face to face the pure fury of the Princess of the Sun. Her usual Violet eyes flickered with a hidden flame that Lucius has never seen before. “Celestia, you need to listen to me,” Lucius tried to reason but as he ran his hand along her neck he swore he could feel his hand heat up unnaturally high. “Equestria depends on you because you are strong enough to bear that weight but you are not alone. Your Sister has returned to you and you have friends that all respect you for your wisdom,” Celestia seemed to pause for a moment as her eyes closed. Her breathing which seemed ragged started to regulate. Lucius pushed his advantage, thanking Jupiter that for once he was not completely useless at conversation. “You told me that I have someone who loves me and wants to share my burdens. You offered me this. I would be a horrible mate and a Man if I did not help share your burdens as well,” Lucius offered and before he knew it he was already having Celestia resting her head onto his shoulder. He caught something out the edge of his vision and by instinct, he put his hand out to catch it. The Halberd shaft landed in the palm of his hand but it didn't stop like he expected. The Centurion had to use most of his muscle just to keep it up right. A grunt escaped his lips as he tried to keep Celestia's head comfortable but also keeping the ridiculous weapon upright. Celestia choked but as she raised her head the vibrant violet eyes returned and her horn was alight to levitate the weapon out of Lucius struggling grasp. She tried not to laugh as she used the Centurion's cloak to wipe the tears from her eyes. “I'm sorry, love. I don't have many to vent too,” she mentioned as she let herself take one deep breath in. As if steeling her resolve she slammed the halberd down to shake the floor. “Let us rid this evil,” “Agre-” Lucius tried to agree until an explosion shook the entire airship. “Mayday! Mayday!” echoed out from the speakers in the hallways as a cloud of smoke started to come from the engine room. Celestia had remained anchored for the blast but she noticed that Lucius wasn't so lucky. She almost panicked when she noticed that her favourite human was collapsed against the bulkhead just outside of her room. Adrenaline immediately started to flow as she leaped in all of her armoured fury to his side to bend low. She tried to phase everything else out for only a moment and she was rewarded with something that made her heart flutter. She could feel Lucius breath against her ear and with that, she lifted him atop her back. Another explosion rocked the airship as Celestia noticed running ponies with fire extinguishers. Ignoring them she made her way to the bridge with a speed that almost seemed unnatural while covered in such a suit. Her presence on teh bridge however seemed unwanted as she entered through the last door to see the body of her XO draped over one of the consoles, a dagger protruding from his back. In a moment Celestia knew that this was no accident. “Princess!” a voice cried out which caused Celestia to turn to see another dagger thrusting towards her. The Princess didn't even move as she witnessed the weapon harmlessly deflect off her pauldron. The pony that initiated the attack lifted his dagger to see the crack that was already appearing along the spine of the blade. He lifted his stunned gaze back up to the towering Royalty but immediately regretted it. There was no love. There was no kindness. The only emotion the young stallion could see was the flames of retribution. His life was soon short lived as his body ascended with the deadly assistance of the Princess' weapon until his motionless corpse was a new ceiling decoration. “Report,” Celestia called out as she pulled her weapon free and making sure no other threats were present. The Navigator coughed before trying to stand but was halted by Celestia's own. “They hit us all at once. None of them were a part of the bridge staff. They took off shortly after leaving him,” the Unicorn pointed to the gruesome mess on the ceiling. “To make sure we didn't reach Manehatten,” Celestia nodded before concentrating on the sailor's wound with her own magic. “I have managed to stop anything fatal but you need medical attention, Sailor,” “Yes, Ma'am,” Celestia levitated Lucius from her back and placed him against the wall with all of his belongings. “I leave him in your stead. If for whatever reason this Human comes into harm, my punishment will not be swift and it will not be gentle,” The Stallion simply nodded his head in acknowledgement. “Make sure that we get to Manehatten,” Was all Celestia said before leaving the bridge and closing the door behind her. “Hurry!” the Mare shouted as she pressed her body against the engine room door. She wore the grey overalls of the Engineer corps and she wore it with pride. She just never thought that she'd be in such a situation that would require her to actually put her life on the line. The sweat beads ran down her body as she used all of her might to keep the door closed but a strong heave almost caused her to buckle over. “I can't hold this, Shimmer!” The other Mare rapidly mumbled words that were barely even coherent to her as her magic ran over the massive magical engine. She was trained to maintain, improve or replace parts but never to sabotage. The chief engineer was already dead and it fell upon their hoofs to make sure that none of the bastards could tamper with their baby. “Done!” she exhaled in triumph only to turn around to see the door wide open and her partner, Tanker, held by the throat. The room was quiet, except for the engine, as the three attackers brandished their assorted blade weapons. “We are going to need you to undo your little project there,” The lead Mare ordered as she motioned toward the engine with her sabre. “Don't do it, Shimmer!” Tanker shouted before a hoof collided with her gut to silence any further outbursts. Shimmer backed away until she felt the engine behind her. Options began to run through her mind at what seemed like light speed but through her heavy breath, neither her magic nor her body listened. She began to shake until she noticed a flicker of lights from the room adjacent to the engine room. Shimmer's eyes looked beyond her attacker to see a form in the darkened shadows. A cry of pain erupted from the stallion guarding the door moments before he was pulled into the darkness. Every eye now turned to the dark as the Stallion holding Tanker dropped her to turn towards the new threat. He held his sword out but his arm began to slightly shake. The moment of stillness was disturbed with a heavy hoof steps. Celestia broke through the darkness with her bloodied weapon and before the stallion near Tanker could even budge a muscle, the axe head fell. The strike held such power and momentum that it even broke through the steel floor. Tanker watched in utter horror as she witnessed her attacker suddenly cleaved in two like a hot knife through hay-butter. Not even a sound escaped the Stallion before the two separate pieces fell to the floor. “So the Princess finally shows?” the lone attacker still alive said as she spun around with Shimmer in her grasp, sabre held to her throat. Celestia retrieved her weapon without a hint of regret or sickness at the display before turning towards the final assailant. Her face didn't show the soft kindness or wisdom but that of a one passing judgment. The glare of condemnation. “If you move even a muscle I will slit her throat!” the pony cried out as Shimmer began to break down in small sobs. Celestia had paused with her weapon pointed towards the ceiling. “What do you gain from this?” The Solar Princess questioned. “Furiae will grant us all eternal happiness in the afterlife. When I die, I will be reunited with my dead Son and there is nothing you can do!” the Mare began to shout in an almost fanatical tone. Her eyes were wide as her smile grew. “All that she asks of us is to eliminate the Human,” “You wish for death then,” Celestia dead panned as she used a flicker of her magic to cause a burst in the pipes behind the assailant. In a burst of heated steam she screamed and convulsed forward; her hoofs desperately trying to remove the uniform that was now drenched in the scolding hot moisture. Her writhing was halted when the Halberd came crashing down to skewer the traitor motionless. The two surviving Ponies watched in a weird mix of disgust and relief before they noticed the Princess's gaze look over them. “Make sure you are not injured than repair the engine the best you can,” They were quiet for a moment before nodding with mouths agape as they watched their Commander leave. Celestia went from deck to deck clearing all those that defied her. It was a massacre but to those who were still loyal, it was a welcoming sight. The Marines even cheered as they charged the enemy when their Princess showed up to offer aid. It was at this point that Celestia found the last group holding out near the starboard magazine housing. Her steps came to the door and as she entered the worst happened. She witnessed the five remaining Ponies chanting in a low murmur with a single cracked keg of black powder spilled among them. Celestia watched in sudden shock as the leading Stallion raised a glowing horn but the Princess didn't need to see anything else. Celestia slammed the door shut and galloped with all her might. Orders were given as every Pony soon dropped everything to run. Celestia wasted no more time as she developed a bright bubble around her that every loyal Pony flocked to. It was that moment of silence that Celestia truly feared as the ship rocked so heavily that Celestia honestly thought the Flagship was torn in two. The Roman Gods must be looking out for her as the shield she erected held steady amongst the sea of smoke and fire. The HMS Solar however was no longer air worthy. Orders of abandon ship was ushered and as soon as she could the shield was dropped and she galloped at full speed for the bridge. When she arrived she noticed that the bridge was in worse shape than she had left it. The Navigator was still at the wheel but she noticed his form was no longer moving as it was slumped over the steering wheel. “Lucius! Where are you?” Celestia shouted as the smoke began to come through the now open door. Her eyes looked around for his form but couldn't see him nor his things anywhere on the bridge until the thought hit her. “You fool!” she muttered before turning back towards her private quarters through smoke. Her hoof steps were begging to feel hotter by the moment which signalled that the below decks were probably consumed by fire. “Lucius!” Celestia managed to choke out as she came to her room to see her Lover had managed to tie a piece of cloth over his mouth and nose. In his hands were his Father's chest piece but before she could truly argue she simply levitated him over to her side to run. The next moment was a blur as the two turned to see out the closest view port to observe land coming awfully close, awfully fast. The two turned towards the mattress and nodded as they threw it against the bulkhead and then braced but not before Celestia sneaked in one final kiss which the Centurion returned.