Canterlot
Three days later.
It had been a few days since the camp was set up. The small contingency of Romans had unexpectedly created a strange effect on the white walled city of Canterlot, something no-pony really expected from the small group of creatures.
Food....or rather the lack of it.
Since most food was grown in the small villages surrounding the majestic city, it had to be brought in by the train or by the gate. Both were null and void due to Varius destroying the rail system near the city and the large body of men outside preventing any-pony from entering and leaving. After a few days the population was slowly gripped by starvation; Canterlot's Pegasus population had however launched several valiant air drops using larger versions of saddlebags to carry supply's to and from the city. It worked, but only just. There was also the risk of the Syrian archers in the Roman lines hitting them as they left the city, so far only a few wing clip's were marked down. It was by the time the Romans had properly dug in now that many of these relief drops had to be done at night, making it slower and harder.for the worn, tired, weak and hungry pony's.
the Romans may certainly be small in numbers but there effects were certainly being felt.
The Roman siege camp "Ira" (Wrath)
Varius sat in a large red tent obstructed by smaller white tents and large palisade built under the cover of Luna's night. however the Equestrians had not made it easy. Weather pony's, many from the wonder-bolts whom Shining requested aid Canterlot they circumnavigated the lands bringing large storms of all of natures elements to bare on the Roman's; Snow covered there camp, rain assaulted the men as they worked, and fierce unforgiving winds battered them as they slowly entrenched themselves outside.
The fold of his tent opened and a soaked though Sextus walked in sitting down taking his slowly taking his tarnished helm of and placing it under one arm.
Raising his arm upwards he saluted "Ave" before slowly lowering it again. Varius coped his movement without looking up "How goes it Sextus?" he asked still not giving the young man the benefit of acknowledgement.
"Fine. im here to report the camps built. All defences and those other things you wanted are ready.."
Another nod from Varius confirmed that he was at least listening.
Sextus shuffled around slightly "Those pony's in the sky have caused quite an annoyance though...our Syrians have been trying to deal with them for a few days, we've also got repo-"
Suddenly the tents flaps were forces open as another legionary stood, wide eyed and trembling.
"Sir..you might want to see this" He said stuttering every word as Varius and Sextus rose from there relative comfort. and leaving the military tent and down a soaked and quagmire'd dirt road to the relatively small entrance.
There at the mouth of the cliff entrance stood a white stallion, marching up and around him rose the gold armour of Canterlot's relive force carrying spears and chanting loudly and proudly the Equestrian national anthem. As they marched they formed into three large "Blocks" each one distinct in the colour of the armour they wore. The middle group stood in the aurelian armour they first saw crest the summit, to there right were the armour of wine dark purple guard's with wings that resembled bats and strange eye like symbols adorning there fronts. And finely to the left were a simple ultramarine blue armour covering there Gray coats.
The White stallion was decked in large bulky purple armour with a trim of gold and the symbol of a star. he stood up front inspecting the invaders taking several steps forward. Varius without warning stepped forward on the same path, both species continued to do so until they were meters apart both inspecting each-other Closely.
The pony spoke first. "So your the creatur- no monster I've heard so much about?" he looked up at Varius with a smirk and raised eyebrow "Honestly I expected you to be...Perhaps scarer?" Shining added a tone of sarcasm to it. mocking the bare skinned "thing" that stood before him. Varius huffed taking slight offence to the pony's insolent tone "And im not quite sure who you are? am i supposed to horse?" snapped back Varius. Shining let out a low growl before looking at the siege camp they had constructed
"So your to blame im assuming for the destruction caused around here hmm?. I mean you seem to be having a nice thrill ride and all, but it ends here and now" Continued the white stallion. At this point Sextus had slowly moved up beside Varius glancing at the Equestrian Capitan. on the Royal guard side Shield and another more aggressive guard had both moved onto Shining's flank making sure the Capitan was moderately safe from the fur-less creatures.
"What have you done with my Rearguard?" Varius demanded, glaring down at him showing no fear at the large force presented to him
"Oh if you mean your small group down that hill. There tied up and will await trail by Equestria once we deal with your lot" Shining allowed himself another brief but effective smirk. aimed directly at the worn down centurion. without allowing him to retaliate he continued "Now, your outnumbered outmatched and out-positioned. I highly consider making it easy for yourself and laying down your arms" His vision narrowed and his attitude changed to a more aggressive tone and stance "Because we guard are not planning to any time soon".
At that point each block pushed there spears downwards while unicorns positioned themselves in-between there ranks. horns down and magic at the ready.
Noticing the deployment of spears the legionary had also left the confines of the wood-walled camp and had formed one thin red line of shield and sword. the front populated by skirmishers and the rear by the Syrian archers. Varius glared at the captain before turning.
"Might i ask your name so I can inscribe it on our victory column?"
Shining let out a chuckle "That a good joke there.." He waited for a moment "Shining armour, Capitan of the Equestrian Royal guard and Husband of Princess Me Amore Cadenza."
Varius was slightly taken back as was Sextus. These ponies were married? well they were certainly more civilised then he first thought. But they were far from Romans
"Varius Casca, son of Brutus Casca, father of Rufus Casca. Head of the First Cohort of Hispanic'a Nine, The ninth legion of Rome, the empire and the emperor. Mark it down horse" He spat back letting a smile envelop his face as he thought back to previous days in Britannia and with the ninth.
Shining nodded "Why so I can inscribe your tombstone with it?" he remarked, Varius looked back at him smiling "You know, you have an attitude I do enjoy. Hopefully we survive to continue this. I'd rather like to talk with you again, barbarian". Shining scoffed before turning and trotting off with shield and his bodyguards while Varius did the same Sextus looking back before sighing
"You honestly cannot be serious about committing to battle? we'll be slaughtered!, or at least captured"
Varius Casca said nothing as he continued back to his lines. The Legionary looked at him with approving nods. The men were with him, it was official the New first cohort of the ninth legion would commit to battle. As shining approached his lines Shield turned to him also "Are we really going to do this" Shield asked Cautiously "After all are they seem intent on staying. we could starve them into submission"
Shining raised a hoof and sighed "I know. but i have to prove im a capable commander and a Capitan that the pony's of Equestria can put faith in. I hate this just as much as you, but fighting here will secure my position. not to mention show this new spices were not anyponys punching bag" He turned facing the camp now that he had returned to his line. Shield continued to press the matter slightly annoyed now "So its all about politics now?"
"Well...yes, a bit" The white Capitan nodded.
"Your using pony's lives, for politics" He pressed the matter further but Shining turned glaring at him "No, im doing this to protect canterlot and defend this country, politics do count yes. but don't you ever thing im just doing it for that...understood?"
"Yes. sir"
Meanwhile at the Roman camp a hand drawn map was hurriedly rolled onto a table as Sextus, Varius and three other soldiers they had both deemed knowledgeable were stood around it.
Sextus started by stating "They pony's are split into three blocks. all numbering around five hundred to eight hundred at a glancing guess. each seem to represent a period of time. Gold for sun, Purple and black for night. While the blue colour represents day at a guess."
Varius nodded "Were numbered a few hundred. what's the status of the men?" he turned to the other three men
One older man spoke up putting his finger on the battle-map "around four hundred veteran legionary, they've fought in several battled with the Gauls, Britons and even several rebellion's with other legions."
the second man pipped up, a large scar running his face he sighed "around a century of Syrian archers, all bowed with around fifty arrows to a man. half are from the twelfth so were looking at some veterans with some legendary archers intermingled." while he did so he pointed to several badly drawn triangles showing there positions
The final man spoke up his armour dirty along with his face. a bronzed unkempt beard under his helmet "All the men are fed to the best we can, all have there two Pilum and all armour is clean. shields are battle ready and spirits seem to be high. there confident" he paused for a moment "Honestly i think there blood thirsty as of now"
It was Sextus's turn now "Well we cant exactly manoeuvres much and tha-" he was suddenly cut of by Varius grinning as he pointed to the map "and that's where we want them. they take up more room due to there size. now he'll be confident in rolling over us, but since were at a choke-point that wont be the case...then there the little surprise i have in store" Pointing to the archers he continued "make sure that there forty of the fifty arrows of each man are clean, make with the last ten and dip them in tar" he pointed to the man who confirmed the archers make-up and pointed to the tent flap, He nodded and left.
One by one the other men were informed of there roles and left leaving only Sextus and Varius in the tent. As he sat down Varius smiled warmly at the boy "So. still expecting us to lose?"
"Honestly i don't know. i would rather avoid all this anyway.." He let out a sigh yawning slightly."are you trying to prove something" Sextus sat down after finishing his sentence tilting his head slightly at Varius as he nodded "Perhaps...perhaps not, either way you need to show more confidence even if you know your going to lose. It gives the men courage now, come. share a drink with me eh?"
Sextus gave in, chuckling he placed a plain chalice and watched at Varius poured red wine from a urn into it "To Roma" he said raising his cup, Sextus followed giving a playful sigh and nodding "For Roma"
Shining gazed out at the now darkened no-man (or pony) land before him giving a brief sigh. He never wanted to fight but indeed it would have to be the case, He was confident in his pony's but not the battleground. He saw many weaknesses these "Romans" could use as an advantage. But the night before battle was no time for this kind of negative thoughts, moving on he filled his head with positive imaged of family. Twilight his sister and his wife Candace, and how perhaps they would both hail him as a hero. With a positive train of thought he retired to his sleeping bag in his own military tent as song and smoke from fires and man and pony drifted across into each camp. Luna's moon drifted peacefully in the sky as the pony's of Canterlot and the rest of Equestria slept. Unsure of the outcome of tommorow...