It was odd.
Lucius couldn't really find a better way to explain what he was experiencing. His eyes observed almost endless plains of lush green grass only to be broken up with the odd equally lush trees. He was sitting on a lone boulder clad in only a red tunic as the gentle, cool breeze rolled across his skin in comfortable waves. It was overcast above but the clouds didn't seem to be especially threatening so he didn't really fear any rain.
The Human however couldn't remember how he had gotten to this point however. Odd.
His fingers tapped on his knees as he continued to appreciate the wind. Every attempt he made to get up or investigate his surroundings was meet with an almost insurmountable resistance. He couldn't explain it but for some reason he was content with just sitting. It almost felt like he had been running, fighting, surviving for so long that he felt thin. The only thing that bothered him was why he was here to begin with.
“You seem at rest, Human,”
Lucius didn't perk up or for that matter, show any interest in the intruder. The Centurion simply gazed out to the grass that lightly danced in the wind.
“Lucius?” the feminine voice called out softly as a presence tapped the Human's side.
Lucius slowly turned his head to gaze up to see Princess Luna standing over him. Her eyes seemed to carry concern although it would be the first time he really noticed something other than anger. The Human gave the Princess a small nod in confirmation before turning his head back.
“Lucius, I need to apologize,” Luna spoke softly. “I was inconsiderate. If it is any Pony or Person that should be able to relate, it would be me. To return from a time that is now long passed. Having to wake up to new faces and advances almost to the point of being overwhelming,” the dark Mare explained as she sat back on her flank.
“Princess?” Lucius spoke.
“Yes?”
“Can you alter my dreams?”
Instead of responding with words she concentrated for a small moment to change the scenery to that of a balcony belonging to Canterlot Castle.
“You can do the same, Lucius. Concentrate on what you want to see and it will be so,”
Lucius only smiled slightly as he closed his eyes for a mere moment before the scenery changed once again. This time however, it had changed to one of a Villa that overlooked a large field of vines. The warming and welcoming sun rays washed over the two as the slight breeze returned. The two of them sat on a small bench watching over the field as people were busy harvesting the bountiful crop.
“Is this-” Luna began to question till Lucius held up a finger to silence her question.
A moment afterwards a small boy ran out of the Villa and onto the road as two men on horses had come to a stop just outside. The older man in the iconic Roman armour and bright red cloth dismounted his steed and stooped low to pick up the small boy. The two began to laugh out loud as the Father was successfully tickling the child into large bouts of laughter.
“That is me as a child. My Father just came back from a especially long campaign in Germania,” The Human explained with fondness as his eyes seem to follow the man and child.
“It seems like you had a good childhood,” Luna noted as she seemed to get lost in the same fond daze.
“It feels like it has been one hundred ages since I have last seen him. I always knew age was getting to him but he always seemed more and more aged beyond his years every time he came home,” Lucius explained. “I never really understood why. Now I look at him and wonder how much weight he was carrying. How many times did he have to bury pain and memories before coming home?”
Luna could only nod solemnly as she understand perfectly well about burying emotions deep within, even to the point of self-destruction. Her eyes watched the Father and little Lucius walk back indoors before the world seemed to shift violently. Luna's head whipped back and forth to identify the problem until her eyes fall upon Lucius and the blood that was coming from his chest.
“Lucius!”
Lucius sat up with a loud yell of pain to the point it had knocked whomever that was above him to the floor. Quickly shaking his head of the dizziness, Lucius felt down to notice a dagger sticking out of his side. Loud banging and yelling came from his bedroom door but soon his gaze shifted to the Pony at the foot of his bed rising back to it's feet.
Survival instincts kicked in as the Centurion grasped the dagger from his side and pulled it free. Another gasp escaped his lips before he had to bring the weapon up to defend himself from a short sword. The clang of metal echoed in the room as Lucius was on the losing defensive. Another strike caused his body to ache and he was not numb to the blood that was seeping out of the wound in his side.
“Die Human!” the shrouded attacker shouted in an almost maniacal laughter. The swings picked up momentum and speed.
Lucius watched his attacker even as the edges of his vision began to close in. The attacks were becoming sloppy but he knew that it wouldn't matter if this barrage against him didn't stop and soon. He watched the pattern and waited just like he was taught. The short sword swung down again but this time instead of trying to block it he rolled aside in the bed to hear the blade dig deep into the wooden headboard of the bed.
Curses and other profanities escaped his attacker's lips before it spotted Lucius next move.
The Centurion gathered the remaining amount of his strength and flung all the linen and covers from his bed over his attacker. Like a net over a helpless calf, the Pony struggled to get free with both curses and punching with hooves. Lucius took the time to launch his counter attack by jumping atop the writhing form and stabbing downwards. His own shouts echoed out as his own stabbing picked up speed and ferocity. Pain had momentarily dissipated from his mind as blood lust and adrenaline took over as the sheets had changed from a brilliant white to a moist dark crimson.
It was at this point that the wounded human gave himself a moment to let out his held breath and for the pain to come back in full force. The bedroom door blasted open to a shattering effect as both Princess' ran in with an assortment of both night and day guards.
Lucius gave them a grin before digging his dagger in to the corpse below him with a sickening effect as if it was a scabbard.
“This is unacceptable!” Luna's voice echoed with power along the throne room walls.
“Sister, please,” Celestia spoke with softness as she raised a hoof.
The assorted Ponies before the two Princess sat in silence as the tension hung around the air like a thick fog.
“I apologize, Princess, but my guards still have no explanation or evidence on how the assaulting Pony has managed to infiltrate the Human's room,” a Stallion in gilded polished steel and gold armour spoke with sternness. “It is obvious that magic was involved. The thing is that none of my Unicorn guards could detect it therefore it must have been a very powerful spell including the barrier upon the door,”
“Indeed, Captain,” Celestia nodded sagely as she levitated reports before her. “I do not blame the stoic guards of my Guard nor my Sister's Night Guard. I however am enacting a full inspection of every single staff member of the castle regardless of their station. If this is a anti-human act of a emerging terrorist group I'd rather nip the bud now instead of it festering,” Celestia decreed as she turned to her Sister Luna who nodded with agreement.
“Very well, your Highness. I still insist that I step down from my position for my failure, your Highness,” the Captain spoke as he locked eyes with Celestia and Luna.
Celestia smiled softly at the request. “How many years have you served the Royal family, Captain Trueshot?”
“More then most, your Highness,” the Captain replied.
“It is because I trust your judgment, Captain. You have proven a stalwart defender and tenacious soldier in both peace and conflict. I doubt I'd have any other by my side during times like this, dear Pony,”
The Captain gave a harrumph but otherwise smiled. “If you wish it then, your Highness, I shall assemble the full garrison for inspection?”
Celestia nodded and with that the Guard bowed, donned his helm and left the throne room for his duties.
“This still brings up the discussion of the attacker. Any leads, my little Ponies?”
“Your Highness, I'd like to bring to every Ponies attention,” an elderly Mare Unicorn spoke as she raised a large picture for all to see. “My staff and I are in charge of investigating the weapon and I have to bring up something interesting that was brought up,”
Celestia gave the Pony a confirming nod.
“Thank you, your Highness,” The Mare brought up a pointer to the picture of the weapons. “If you all look closely, you can see this image on both the weapons,”
Celestia and Luna both studied the image closely. It was the six sided star of old that demonstrated each of the Elements of Harmony however something was different. There seemed to be a seventh icon that Celestia couldn't recognize that was in the centre of the star.
“We have been studying the symbol but have yet to identify the origin of it. No known extremist group or gang is affiliated with the symbol nor any Nation,” the Mare explained.
Luna raised a hoof to gather the room's attention. “Perhaps the symbol is something far more ancient than we know?”
The white Princess let a hum of thought before pointing to the director of the Royal Archive. “Director, gather all your assets and delve deep into the records for anything about this symbol,”
“Right away, your Highness,”
“What about the corpse of the attacker?” Luna asked. “Has the attacker been identified?”
“That is the most disturbing part, your Highness,” a young Stallion in armour spoke up. “Upon discovery of the body, it has shown that the body was faceless,”
Celestia gasped out loud along many in the court.
Luna however was wide eyed for a different reason. “Lieutenant, was both the face and cutie mark missing?”
“Yes, your Highness,”
Celestia turned to her Sister in hidden confusion but Luna was deep in thought. Ignoring her for the moment, Celestia turned back to address the crowd before the rumour mill would consume them all. “If that is to be all, I bid all of you to return to your tasks. This case is to be considered confidential, any who are caught discussing it to those who do not have the right authority will be dealt with harshly. I will be expecting reports with every development. Court, Dismissed,”
As a group, the Ponies bowed to the Princess' and then orderly evacuated the Throne room except the assigned Guards.
Celestia took this time to turn to her Sister with concern. “What is it, dearest Sister?”
Luna tapped a hoof on the arm rest of her Throne before turning. “I vaguely remember reading something about 'Faceless' Ponies, something akin to mannequins. It was something very old however since I recall reading it before my cold banishment,” Luna explained as she slowly retreated from her seat and to a door where her personal guard awaited.
Celestia followed Luna with her gaze before Luna stopped before the door.
“I spoke to Lucius in his dreams,” Luna spoke softly.
Celestia's ears perked up but she advanced with caution. “Sister,”
Luna let out a small smile “He is homesick. A vessel lost at sea,”
Celestia didn't respond with words but simply nodded with her own soft smile.
“I will not come between you two, Sister,” Luna spoke as her gaze shifted to the window that shown the return of Princess Luna and the memories that flooded her with it. “I may not agree with everything you do but you are all I have left. If he makes you happy then so be it,”
Celestia watched as Luna left the throne room before developing a small fit of giggles. Despite all that is going on, Luna was worried about that? Celestia loved her Sister with all her heart, even more than Luna probably knows. It was when her thought returned to Lucius did she frown. The Princess wanted nothing more than to have the Centurion hang up his armour and life the rest with peace. The dream however was proving hard to chase but perhaps it is one worth chasing?
“So she failed?”
“Yes, my Lord. My resources tell me that she managed to injure the Centurion but could not finish the job,” a hooded and shadowy Pony spoke to a large mirror that has a beautiful dark oak border.
“No matter,” the Mirror responded with a eerie echo. “You are to continue your observation on our target. We will have another chance,”
“Very well, my Lord. Shall I arrange some Pony else to take care of this matter?” the mysterious Pony asked with a bow.
“No. I have a vast amount of agents at my disposal. We have made our move in this game of Chess and now it is time for them to make theirs,” the Mirror almost seemed to chuckle at the thought.
“Your will be done, my Lord,”
With a magical push, a drape was moved over the mirror to match it with the surrounding decor.
Lucius leaned against the railing that looked over Canterlot. Now and again he would grunt from the pain but whatever the Ponies had given him was amazing when it came to nullifying the pain. The moon was high in the night sky and it bathed the world in a radiant glow. The City below was filled with a soft glow of street lamps and candle light. Thankfully it was quiet as it gave him time to think about his situation.
He remembered the map that was shown to him and wondered which way Rome was. Where was his home? Where was his kin? His comrades?
Dead.
He didn't want those thoughts trespassing in his head but the truth couldn't be denied. The truth however cemented his future and what about his dream meeting with Mars? Save Rome? How? Was Rome not already gone? The questions plagued his mind. He didn't know what to do and that is what bothered him the most. He was a problem solver so nothing was more infuriating than a puzzle with missing pieces.
His rush of thoughts seemed to be so distracting that he honestly didn't even realize someone approaching behind him till it was too late. A golden aura enveloped him and with a gentleness, he began to both levitate and rotate to see a frowning Princess that had all her Royal accessories removed.
“You should be sleeping,” Celestia hounded with little amusement.
“My mind is plagued. I doubt I will be getting anymore sleep,” Lucius answered but complaint or not it seemed he was destined for the comfortable and welcoming bed covers. He was not alone however.
Celestia had followed after him. She was gentle knowing full well that both the Centurion and his injury were anxious. The Princess slowly closed the distance until she rested her head on his chest.
“Prin-” Lucius began to complain until Celestia gave a small hush.
“I want to listen to this heartbeat. I almost lost you today,” Celestia spoke out softly. Lucius could feel the sadness drip from every word. “You may think me folly, but I love you, Lucius,” Celestia breathed as she felt the moisture build up in the corner of her eyes.
Lucius laid motionless for a long moment. He didn't really know how to respond. He couldn't honestly say he loved her back. The Centurion thought about it but he knew the dishonesty would eventually tear him up inside. Images of his Father came to him.
'Think of me if ever you are afraid'
Lucius doubted being a coward in this situation but the thought of his Father calmed him non the less.
Instead of words he did what he did best. Action. He slowly brought his arms around the back of the Princess neck and her barrel to bring her in closer. Her fur felt great among his exposed skin and the tiny gasp she let out was a pleasant surprise. The Princess' horn however had to be evaded but for her credit, it didn't seem as sharp as he feared.
“Thank you, Lucius,” Celestia whispered while in his embrace as the two fell into a deep slumber.