"Fire!" echoed the command of an unseen soldier as the Syrian archers had decided to open the battle with a swarm of blackened arrows. They impacted into the royal guard lines with a sickening whistle and crunch, metal twisting on metal and flesh being skewered. The cliff top was soon filled with screeches and pained moans of killed and injured stallions and the screams were soon carried by the wind towards Canterlot and elsewhere.
From the lines of golden Armour came the unicorns of the Royal Guard in response. There heads held high and proud even with the chance of death delivered on the end of a steel point. There horns glowing with sparks of greens, purples and blue. Forming into ball shaped charges and launched high into the air with an audible thud. Behind them and the formations of guard being stormed by a seemingly endless hail of arrow stood the white coated stallion Captain who commanded them, Capitan Shining Armour.
Sprinting up a small crest where the captain stood Shield Barer caught the sight of one pony, a young stallion being impacted in the lower flank. Falling in agony as he was simply replaced by the stallion behind him like a sick form of assembly line. Reaching the summit he panted allowing his burning lungs to inhale the much needed oxygen into his hard pressed system. "Captain Armour" He began "The left formation reports moderate losses to there ranks and are becoming rowdy" And finished with another sharp intake of air, "Unicorns are currently skirmishing with the creatures missile infantry.but were waiting for orders" With that Shield turning reading himself to charge forward to the next position to deliver Shining commands.
The stallion nodded, looking over the flat plane and up towards the castle. "Understood Shield Bearer. Relay this message toward the lieutenants of the formations." He sighed bringing himself to face the younger stallion "Advance in marching pace" And lastly back towards the main frontier "Lets hope our show of force convinces these creatures to stand down...for everpony sake" With another sighed he turned around and advanced back into his camp.
Shield flicked his head nodding.as several other stallions surrounding him cantered at relaxed pace to relay the commands. There was no rush, why should there be? Shining had himself counted five hundred odd and behind him in there own camp sat in bindings forty. The rearguard he had managed to capture the night before. They refused to talk, but he was sure that when they got into the city and the creatures saw the Canterlot dungeon guards they would spill everything.
"Canterlot, Lunar Guard! By your left hooves. Advances!" Roared the lieutenant of the lunar guard. slowly the mass of stallions slowly steamed towards the small cohort. Seconds later the other two formations marched slowly towards them.
Varius stood to the right near the cliff on a small hill, giving him a slight advantage of being able to see everything slightly better then the other. Sextus stood at his right, nervously leaning onto his large Scutum shield.
"Varius, please for the love of Venus can we just talk this out?" He asked looking franticly at the soon to begin slaughter.
"I told you Sextus this will work. Trust me" The centurion said, looking over at his friend with a smile "I'm confident in our planning young Sextus and rest assured this will work".
Sextus again slumped down over the shield, dismayed that every attempt to avoid battle had so far ended with a confident victorious reply from Varius. He watched at the large formations of ponies trotted closer and closer towards the Roman line, Unfaltering below the storm of arrows the Syrians had been firing.
Suddenly Sextus felt a something hit his eye. he looked up to have water droplets fall onto his face. causing him to close his eyes and cough. Nobody, or nopony for that matter had notice the natural forming storm approach. Drenching both sides very rapidly in a hail of rain and thunder. Varius looked up with a grim expression, looking over Sextus could also make out a slight hint of fear.
"...Are the gods showing us an omen Sextus?" He asked. Sextus said nothing though, aware that the question was rhetorical and was not to be answered. "Come Sextus" he again said, causing the young legionary to blink, coming out of his own train of thought "Hu- oh right. Aye Centurion" he leaned over slotting his hand into the grip of the shield and returned to his standing position, following the already somewhat ahead Varius. Both attempting not to slip on the muddy terrain.
As they both arrived Varius was greeted by a older legionary. Both saluted with a "Hail Ceaser" before turning to face the men.
"Augustus, report?" Varius asked his head twisting left and right to try and see over the ranks of red and silver.
"Aye Centurion. There just coming into pilum range. shall we take the advantage of striking first?" he asked putting Sextus in a state of confusion. "Strike first?" they were outnumbered and outmaneuvered how could they strike first, what had they done?.
Varius nodded "Yes. Let the lads throw a volley of pilum and tell the Syrians to ignite".
Sextus again stood bewildered by the new information. The Syrian archers had fire arrows? when and why was he not informed. But it all began to click now. He now understood why ten arrows from each man was kept away from the rest, Just then his eye caught a shimmering over the rain coated field. a glimmering he knew all to well. Oil, it all made sense now, but now the possible Roman advantage had some complications. Water had rushed onto the field, although oil and water could not mix the water helped carry the oil across the top of the battleground.
Sextus's pupils grew slightly he turned and sprinted over to Varius, dropping his shield in the process, something that the army could actually charge him with death he roared at the top of his lungs determined to stop them.
"Varius wait, the field!" Varius turned but thunder boomed overhead cutting Sextus plea off.
Then the archers fired. A brilliant wall of flame that lit up the Gray sky as the arrows began there path of destruction. The whistling of the arrows echoed across the battlefield and soon the arrows were beginning there decent. Both sides watched with eagerness or confusion as they landed short of the stallions. Everything went silent. From across the lines Varius noticed a stallion opening his mouth to laugh.
Then the oil caught, a wall of fire flicked up like talons. screeching and moving in all directions as the fire pulled the oxygen from the air to fuel the inferno. The torrents of flame stuck both lines just as confusion set in. Paths were cut off and friends were separated as stallion and human tried to find a way out of the blaze, soon though when both sides found eachother during there own escape attempts small clashes emerged, the battle had gone from a well planned tactical fight to a chaotic fight surrounded by flames and helped by the strong winds of the storm above.
Varius looked around, surrounded by fire he shrunk down in fear watching as though the flickering of the orange walls his men fought a losing battle, outnumbered by the desperate ponies trying to escape the blaze. Another blast of wind kindled the blaze and soon the wall of fire creeped up on him, he looked around desperately. There had to be an exit, somewhere, anywhere!.
Just as the flamed licked at his tunic he felt a hand grasp him and pull him though the blaze, he fell back and slammed onto the ground the neck guard of his helmet buckling and twisting, rendering the helm as a chunk of metal now.
"Sextus!?"
Standing above him stood Sextus covered in black soot and sweating from the extreme heat he connected his hand onto the Centurions arm, hauling him up onto his feel, leaving the helmet on the ground.
"Where were you, what happened, who's winni-" Sextus cut him of by simply raising his hand.
"I don't know...i..the rain did something with the oil.." Sextus was stuttering and panting for air and letting out small whimpering noises much like a common dog, Varius looked up at the Legionary face. Tears were forming at the young man's eyes "Sir...sir im scared..." He slowly closed his eyes griping his broken pilum and letting out a small sniff.
Varius simply looked around, flames had now totally engulfed the field of battle and were creeping up onto the two military camps. he paused to think analysing the situation. There camp was burning up so there was no point going there. The field was far to dangerous due to the close quarter fighting in and around the inferno.
"The hill".
"P...Pardon Centurion?".
Varius ran past the young soldier grabbing him by the lorica ripping him from his standing position and dragging him towards the hill they first stood on only a few minutes ago "The hill. we can see where its safe to go... don't worry were not dead yet" at a hurried pace both men made there way out of the battle and towards the hilltop position
Iberia
Seven years beforehand
Sextus sprinted though the Forrest, Varius in close pursuit. From behind came the roar of angry barbarians from there latest caravan ambush...This time however they succeed in overrunning the small detachment defending it, and were now chasing two of the survivors deep into the woods of what was now modern day Spain
Panting Varius looked up at Sextus "Keep....Running! Go!" He roared, encouraging the younger man to continue sprinting towards the hilltop around them he noticed the advancing horde of pelt wearing men.
"I..I can see the crest Varius!" Sextus turned around with a grin "Hurry common! Almost there!" The two men eventually sprinted free of the Forrest floor and onto a open field on the summit. The two Romans collapsed onto the ground panting and gasping for air
"Futuo! Do they ever give up?" Sextus asked standing up and looking around
Varius chuckled looking around "Mars if i know, but i think were going to have to fight this one out?"
Sextus nodded moving to Varius's side with a grin "So tell me. Thirty on two...not exactly even numbers friend"
"I know. pretty uneven for these guys eh?" he nudged his companion as the both of them shared another chuckle. Sextus moved behind him going back to back as the Roman legionary unsheathed his sword, and Sextus brought his spear down to his shield
"Hey Varius, do me a favour. Promise me now that your going to have my back? Right? he moved himself back slightly nudging the Legionary
Varius turned playing a hand on the young boys shoulder "Sextus, I'll have your back as long as you need. That's a Blood brother promise that im swearing to you in front of the gods" He then moved his hand up lightly slapping the boys face "Now stop yapping and hold that spear steady"
Turning back around Varius smirked at the nieve attitude of the young boy. The fact he had foolishly tried to help the Roman soldiers was something to be impressed about...Although throwing a snake at an armed person is not exactly "effective". suddenly the barbarians broke from the Forrest charging up at the two of them from both sides. He hugged the rear of Sextus making sure that he was not leaving to much space for the other men to take advantage of.
"On three...okay?" he called over to the young boy, who nervously nodded. Varius simply smirked watching his first target grow closer and closer until he was within striking distance,
Then he stabbed forward determined to live, and keep his promise.
"Three!".
Equestria
Shining Armour was not quite sure what to make of the situation, he had confidently marched into camp expecting either a surrender...or at the least a clean cut victory.Now he hurriedly made his way though his royal guards, disarming any Roman who stood in front of him with his magic. He was not exactly sure either on how this blaze started and had not decided on staying to find out. Shield followed close behind, ordering some of the stallions to regroup and retreat. making sure one was to go back to the blazing camp to free the captured creatures.
They both finally broke free of the fire only to narrowly avoid an most likely fatal fall from the cliff. Shining turned and looked around, slowly his royal guard were regrouping and falling back away from the fire, as were the other creatures, his attention then turned to shield as he sighed.
"shield. get to the castle, find my wife." He said coughing as the black smoke from the fire was taking its toll.
"Yes...what shall i say?".
"Anything just tell her im alive, and not to worry my sister, understood guard?" He asked looking over with his irritated eyes,
Shield nodded looking around for the fastest way to avoid either being stabbed or cooked and soon spotted a small opening though the fire and behind the lines "Understood sir... don't get yourself killed sir" He said looking back with a grin.
Shining couldn't help but let himself smirk back "Just get moving" and with that the smaller stallion left to do his job. Shining on the other hand looked around, jumping was out of the question and so was going back into the the wall of fire he just managed to leave. However just as all seemed lost though the blaze came a small gap. just enough so that he could probably jump without anything but a few burns.
"Well here goes nothing!" The white stallion closed his eyes and trotted hurriedly towards the hole. vaulting over the burning ground and onto the other side. Burned, blackened and bruised...But very much alive. He noticed a sharp rise to the left of him near the cliff, from there he cold probably gather information and figure out what the hell happened, not to mention figure out a way to either Pontville or Canterlot without becoming the worlds first "Barbecued Capitan". With a confirmed nod he slowly began to struggle up the slope and towards the summit.
Varius was crawling at this point, almost at the top he looked down to notice Sextus sitting down half way up. He was alive but was probably exhausted, either way they were alive and that's what mattered.
"Dam horses" he cursed under his breath, slowly pulling himself to his feet as he crested the summit. only to be met by the blue eyes of a white stallion. who himself had just reached the top. The both looked up, stopped and froze in position and waited for the other to make the first move.
Both attempted to guess the other motives, and as the did time slowly ticked away. the rains from the storm were slowly dying and the sound of crackling wood and charred body filled the air. Shining winced as the smell of death and burning approached them. the sickly smell engulfing the two soldiers as they stood of against eachother.
Just as Shining was about to talk Varius suddenly dived forward, bringing his left arm over and drawing his gladius, swinging with precision while roaring in anger. The white stallion lost his footing due to moving back in surprise and catching on wet ground, he narrowly avoided the Romans blade and kicked his hind legs forward before hitting back onto the soft ground Varius has not time to respond as his upper body impacted with the rear hooves of the slipping stallion, causing his dive to stop abruptly and him to hit face first onto the ground. His face Covered in mud.
Slowly he attempted to lift himself up only to find his mid section disagreeing in the form of agonising pain. Several broken ribs and perhaps worse, grunting he was again pushed into the wet cold mud by Shining who had managed to use his horn to teleporting himself up and over, although after all that had happened it brought him to exhaustion.
"You...You've cause more problems then your worth creature" He said twisting his head to spit out some of the black soot that he had managed to breath in. "And frankly I think a trial it to good for you....monster".
Varius chuckled coughing up some crimson red liquid from his mouth "I...I find it funny that a simple animal tries to dictate what i am..when your species is naught but slaves and work animals" he looked up with a smirk "And...to be ridden on".
Shining had enough of this, he raised his hoof and brought it down onto the Humans stomach, Varius winced and leaned down clutching at his lower body with a loud grunt of pain followed by another fit of coughing.
"Do..your worst animal" He managed to say between the cry's of pain.
Shining smirked bringing another hoof up "I intend t-" Suddenly Sextus launched himself at the pony knocking himself and the white stallion onto there sides, he then pinned him down and repetitively brought his clenched fist down onto the stallions face, overcome with rage he continued to unrelentingly assault the unarmed stallion again and again ignoring the cries of Shining below him.
Shining was in shock, he didn't expect this creature and was caught of guard, now here he was being beaten to death, he flailed around looking for anything, anything at all that could possible save his life, Then his hoof felt it, the wooden stock of something. Without thinking he wrapped his hoof around it and swung up.
The next few seconds seem to have lasted hours. The sword that he had found, dropped by Varius during his dive swung around and impaled Sextus though the midsection. He slowly stopped punching and looking down in shock. mumbling incoherently and rolling back and off the stallion.
Varius's eyes went wide, as he noticed the young soldier he had known for almost half his life go limp and fade away into the afterlife.Slowly he crawled over, his mind numbing the pain he was experiencing, and made his way over to the young man. Shining simply crawled backwards in a daze, looking at what he had done, shaking his head of the mental image.
"Sextus! Oh Gods above talk, please, common buddy, r-remember Iberia? Or..Or Britannia? common how about that..." Varius desperately tried to "wake" the slightly cold legionary. Shaking his head, hoping that this would all be some form of sick dream.
Shining stood up, sighing he turned and made his way down off the hill and away from the scene, all he wanted was to keep Equestria safe but not like this. He looked to his left to see the dying flames of the battlefield. Romans were trying to help friends back to there charred camp, while the Royal guards chased them down, capturing them or killing. He shook his head and sat down near the edge of the cliff.
"Die you stupri animal!" Shining had no time to react as he felt something impact onto him and then he himself slowly fall into nothingness. Varius had grasped him by the back armour and pushing himself and the Royal guard captain off the cliff, determined to finish him off. Shining did something he had never once done, Screamed like a little filly...
"Are you insane! Were both going to die!" He roared to the assailant as loud as possible only to be droned out by the louder rush of wind passing them as they grew closer and closer to the grown. The Roman said nothing though, nothing but an insane grin across his face and he held tightly onto the stallion. In an last ditch effort to escape shining horn began to glow as he attempted to teleport, however he was simply to tired and weak.
Slowly as the ground grew closer the speed of the air began to have there effect, both struggled to breath and it was not long before Varius grew tired and blacked out, releasing his grip on the already out stallion.
Then, darkness...and a strange sense of peace.