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// A deeper darkness 
// Story: A road to Nowhere 
// by One Trick Pony 
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Chapter  2: A deeper darkness

“There is no great genius without some touch of madness.”

Solitude woke to the sound of muttering around him, he opened his eyes and looked around. He was in a big tent with ponies laying on beds around him, some sleeping some looking down at wounds on their body’s with a look of agony on their faces. There were a couple of ponies in white coats sitting at a table in the light of a candle. “I still can’t believe it” one of the ponies said. “2 centuries of Speculatores run down like frightened Diamond dogs.” “How long do you think we are going to be stuck here” ,another one asked, more to himself then anypony in particular. “I don’t know”  the first one replied with a sigh, I heard the legate will call for a meeting of all Centurions and their Optios today to discuss the situation…
Stuck, Meeting, all Centurions and Optios… he needed to get up, get into his armour, move!, Solitude thought as he tried to jump out of his bed. “whoa whoa easy now” A kind looking mare with blue eyes and a stunning dark blue mane standing next to him said, as she held him down. And then Solitude remembered, the swamp.. they were ambushed, the 3rd Speculatores century had come just in time for them to retreat… he had no idea how many casualties there were, how was his century, was his centurion all right? He had probably been thinking out loud as the mare next to him shook her head, “you should rest first.” she said, “You took a nasty hit from a zebra lance.”

But Solitude was not going to give up so easily, “I am an optio from the 2nd specula- “he began to speak. “Even if you where the legate himself you are staying in bed”, she said pushing her hoof down on his chest. If only I had the persuasive powers of the like of Bright hoof , Solitude thought as he realized he had about as much chance getting out of this tent as a commoner had change being invited into the royal palace. Right at that moment the flap of the tent opened as his friend Bright hoof entered the tent with the usual smug grin on his face. “you are not allowed to come in here” the blue haired mare said as Bright Hoof walked straight up to his bed “and who is gonna stop me, you” Bright grinned. There was that persuasive power , Solitude noted.

“So, look at you 2 kills ahead of me before the campaign even really started” Bright Laughed, “looks like I am going to get a change to get back in the game though” he said. “what do you mean” Solitude responded slight worried. “Well after the lot of you were chased out of the swamp the Legate pulled on some strings to get a division of Pagasi scouts to do an air patrol” “only good thing he did so far” he added at a lower tone. “anyway they spotted what they think must be a Zebrican encampment a few miles into the swamp and the legate decided to send 4 centuries of the first cohort to check it out.”  “We are to eliminate any hostile forces and then loot it so we can continue our march without continuous zebra interference.”
“WHAT?!” Solitude yelled out, causing annoyed looks from around the tent. He continued on a lower tone: “Do you have any idea what you are getting yourself into they have slingers, you can’t run, you can’t hide, they can see everything!” ” Don’t you worry one second”, Bright said as he threw an apple onto Solitudes hooves. “You just rest up and make sure that wound heals up nicely, the legion has no intention of hiding, running or dodging projectiles. We block, advance and annihilate. I’d like that Zebra scum to deal with that” He laughed as he trotted out of the tent leaving Solitude in the dark once again.

I will not fail the legion, the first will crush those filthy zebra and teach them not to defy the will of the princesses, Bright Hoof thought as he walked towards the edge of the temporary encampment where he had ordered Aria to gather his Century. The walls and defenses that were put up over the night already looked formidable enough to withstand a direct attack from the likes they have seen yesterday. But the problem was that the Zebra were not attacking, they were just going to wither the legion down as it marched and with that camp nearby they could simply keep resupplying themselves. A frontal assault is really the only way, Bright thought as he approached his Century with Aria in front of them, banner high in the air, as always.

“Centurion Bright Hoof, the troops have been assembled.” Aria spoke as he approached raising her hoof as a gesture of respect to her superior. The rest of the Century quickly followed suit, except for one particular stallion who was standing in the front row just beside Aria, Aria followed Bright’s gaze to the stallion in question. It was a brown earth pony with a black mane and he looked Bright strait in the eyes. I have seen this look before, Paranoia, resentment… fear ,Bright thought as he readied himself to speak. “Explain yourself legionnaire!”, Bright yelled with the most intimidating voice he could manage at his rather young age.

“This is suicide” the stallion yelled,” we are all going to die if we move out of this encampment, we need more men we should send the whole legion!” The sudden outburst of anger and emotion had shocked the Century as they all looked at Bright Hoof for his reaction. “We are going out there because we are the best, we are going because we are the vanguard, we are going out there to protect Equestria, now raise your arm in recognition or face the consequences!” Bright yelled out.

The brown stallion didn’t move a muscle. 

“Apprehend him!” Aria shouted at the 3 legionaries closeted to the stallion. “no.” said Bright Hoof as everypony looked up at him in confusion. “let him proof his point” Bright said, while he pulled his trusted mace from his back with his mouth and threw off his legionnaire shield. He knew all too well it was too heavy to wield in a duel and would only slow him down. The 3 legionnaire ponies who had apprehended the stallion now let him go and backed up a fair distance to the rest of the Century.

Bright Hoof looked at the opponent in front of him, he was slightly shaking being abandoned by everyone and in full gear, shield raised, sword ready. But hopelessly unprepared. This was the moment to show his century what would happen to those that defied his and the legion his orders, those that insulted the princesses and the empire with their weakness. Those that would dare, taint the reputation of the first cohort!  Strength, honour…. And discipline. , Bright thought, before  he charged at the stallion in front of him.

This was different from all the duels that he had fought at the academy over the years, it was somehow.. more real , he realised as he swung his mace at the legionnaire in front of him who only barely blocked it. The mace slammed into the shield leaving a massive dent as Bright stepped back dodging a stab from the legionnaires sword. Words flew past in Bright his mind as he charged at the legionnaire for a second time : Honour, Loyalty, Bravery! “Coward!”  He yelled out, as his mace hit the legionnaire in the middle of his shield for the second time with a force that nearly bended it in half as he could hear the stallions leg crush in the handle on the other side. The legionnaire now with both front legs kneeled on the ground from the shockwave didn’t move, he was probably in shock, or wounded, Bright did not care.” So be it then, I will show you what happens if you don’t fight back”, he sneered, as he raised his mace up in the air and let it come down with all his force.
“No!” Bright heard in the corner of his mind, as his mace was slowed down by an invisible force and hit the legionnaires helmet with only a faint “dong”. Bright looked up and saw Aria, horn glowing wrapping his mace in a magical aura. “We still want him around for the actual punishment, don’t we” She said with a very serious tone as she laughed nervously looking at the Centurion in front of her, who slowly looked to turn into his old self again. “Yes of course, Optio Aria” Bright hoof said, “You Three, take this piece of waste to the field hospital” He said, pointing his hoof at the 3 legionnaires of earlier who quickly picked up their comrade and carried him in the direction of the field hospital. “I hope that settles any un-clarities of who is in charge here and who is to follow orders” Bright grinned, as if nothing serious had just happened. And the whole Century stuck up their hoof in recognition of their centurion.

Wounded, deceased, medical discharge.... desertion?!, how is my first campaign turning into THIS. Papers flew through the richly decorated tent as Legate Vettelius stamped his hoof on the table. A few scribed looked up in surprise but quickly went back to their work as he met their gaze. This campaign was to be his breakthrough into the royal advisory, the selected group of individuals controlling the whole of Equestria answering only to the princesses themselves. A prestigious position, one that would promote him from mediocre royalty to a pony of supreme power. It had only been a month since he had received the news he had waited on for so long, a change to proof himself with the most prestigious mission one could imagine. A frontal assault into the land of the Zebras, with the whole Second legion under his command. “Sigh” Back then it was all so promising, but now I am in the middle of the shit and if this campaign does not start moving again quickly my political career is over, He thought, as a scribe carefully placed the papers he had just thrown around back on his desk in a neat pile.
He sighed again as he looked at an area report the pagasi scouts had given him, it was a valuable piece of information to have and not as easy to obtain as one might think. He had to pull a lot of strings to get the pagasi scout team to map the area around them, after all there were a lot of ponies back in Canterlot that would be more than happy to see him fail in his task, and return a defeated nopony. it was about 1 more day of marching until the end of this godforsaken swamp was reached but it might as well be 1 week, or 1 month! He could not possibly risk to send his legion on the road with those filthy Zebra peppering them with rocks along the way. But he could also not risk losing more days waiting here, the pagasi map showed they were approaching a river and he could bet all his bits that the Zebra would try and hold it at all costs. The more days those filthy zebra had to prepare... the more difficult the crossing would be.

This had left him with only one option, a distraction. 4 Centurys of the first cohord would be send to attack a small zebra forth a few miles in the swamp which was presumably their base of operations in the area. One small detail he had not given to the centurions of said cohord was of course that as they moved in on the enemy, the legion would march for the river. He had already decided that he would leave behind the 10th cohord  with one century of Speculatores to defend the base they had build here and guard the wounded until they were ready to travel, which would hopefully be by the time the Centurys of the 1st returned from their mission. However even if the 1st would fail, the legion would already be out of the grasp of the swamp and hopefully on time to cross the river before the zebra could build a formidable defence, after all, he would still have 8 full cohords left, plenty to fight off some stinking zebra!
“Vettelius you are brilliant!” he said out loud, as he looked outside and saw a brown earth pony being dragged to the field hospital by 3 legionnaires.

Luna’s night just started to make way for Celestia’s day as the 4 centuries of the 1st Cohord gathered at the improvised front gate of their temporary base. Bright Hoof shivered as the cold morning air passed his damp coat. This was the day they were going to show those Zebras some real Equestrian warfare. On his right side Bright saw Aria, she was brushing her mane straight with her hoof while staring at the front gate. He looked behind him and observed the rest of his century, after the little incident from yesterday they all seemed to have some newfound respect, or fear for him. Whichever it is, it will only work to our advantage out there , Bright thought. They all looked in good shape, armour in prime condition, helmet strapped securely to their heads, shield to their side and sword in the holster. Second legion, 1st Cohord, 2nd Century, ready for duty. He thought as he looked forward again.

A single horn blew once as the gate opened and the 4 centuries advanced into the dark swamp. Bright Hoof looked round once as he saw the gate close and a loud horn sound blew across the encampment, apparently the legate had decided to start the day early for one reason or another. It did not worry him now, he was out here now and he was responsible for his troops, and the glory of the empire.
The moment Bright took one step into the swamp he knew exactly what Solitude had meant yesterday when he had said: “you can’t run”. His hoofs sunk into the mud multiple inches every step and sucked themselves vacuum making it very heavy to move forward. No, he thought,  running was not an option… then again it never had been in the first place! “Unicorns, illuminate” Bright Hoof yelled, and from the back of his Century ten balls of light shot outward hovering around the Century in a circular motion. Bright Hoof could hear the order being relayed to the other Centuries and before too long the four centuries were covered in an aura of magical light.
Bright looked next to him and saw that Aria was also holding a ball of light in her command. “Aria” Bright hoof said. “You are an Optio of this century and will be fighting in the front line with me, please don’t waste your energy on creating a ball of light” “Fine, but don’t come complaining when you run into a tree” Aria joked. Bright looked around him, seeing everything living in the swamp take cover in the darkness at this fine display of unicorn magic. “As if we are blessed by the light of Celesita herself, darkness fades before us!” Bright Hoof yelled as the Troops cheered in approval.

Hours passed and Bright hoof was thrilled with how things were progressing as they slowly but surely made their way through the swamp. The bold tactic he had chosen appeared to work perfect against their foe, they had expected more sneaking around like the Speculatores did but not something like this. Then suddenly a war horn sounded in the darkness “Shields!” Bright yelled as he looked into the darkness. One moment later a deafening sound of stone on iron filled the air as stones where slung at the legionnaires from all directions, most bouncing harmlessly off the large rectangular shields but just as Bright Hoof looked to his left he saw a stallion being hit straight in the face and fall down in the water. This has to stop, they are going to wither us down, Bright quickly realized.

“Illumination, increase and  outward!” He yelled, and the balls of light that had been circling the centuries lit up to extreme brightness and moved away leaving them in the dark and revealing their enemy.. and their goal. There right in front of them was a wooden wall manned by Zebras and a small wooden gate in the middle, to their sides where large packs of Zebra all holdings slingers in their mouths “Centuries, single Testudo formation!” Bright Hoof yelled out. Taking advantage of their temporally blinded foes the 4 Centuries moved together, forming a single square with shields on all sides and unicorns in the middle. Next to this every pony who was not walking at a side had his shield strapped to this back making an iron roof.  
“Advance on the gate”	And the massive square started to slowly come to life and move towards the wooden palisade. The Zebras still throwing rocks quickly realised they were wasting their time against the impenetrable Testudo and held their fire unsure how to deal with the situation. “what now centurion”, Aria asked with concern in her voice as the square was pressed up against the wooden gate. “Now, now we buck” Bright Hoof said with a laugh on his face. As Quick as Bright Hoof had said it ten strong looking stallions where kicking their hind legs up against the gate as it began to give way. But as soon as the gate was breaking down, it appeared to be healing.... itself.

Then as if commanded by nature itself the roots growing up against the side of the walls came alive and grabbed ponies left and right wrapping themselves around their throats and pulling them up into the air. “The roots, cut those roots!” ,Bright yelled. But just as with the gates the only effect of cutting a root off was seeing it grow back and continue its attack. This is MY... century... this is MY honour on the line does  this vile zebra magic really think it can stand in the way of progress and the will of Equestria, Bright thought as he started laughing. “Buck harder you fools, or do you want to end up in zebra stew at the end of the day?!” he cried out as he joined the effort by slamming his mace against the wood which slowly but certainly seemed to break down. “keep it up” then with a crunch the gate finally gave way.

“Second Century, through the gate!” Bright commanded as he quickly observed the fort, a small courtyard, a barracks and some huts, this should be over quickly. His eyes then fell on what was presumably causing his troops to be strangled by plants. In the centre of the little courtyard there was a group of heavily armoured zebras, with in the middle a big zebra who appeared to be in trance chanting spells in a strange tongue Bright could not understand. “Aria, interrupt him!” Aria quickly charged a bold of light and fired it at the weird looking zebra but it dissolved in green smoke as it approach him and Aria could feel her horn burn. In the courtyard the fight had now fully started, as the legionaires where pushing forward as a line into the zebras standing in the centre.

Bright looked down the side of his shield and saw a zebra run towards the shield with a furious war cry “fool” he muttered as he raised his shield and felt a loud impact. As soon as he lowered the shield he could see the zebra stunned in front of him as he swung his mace into his skull with a satisfying crunch. “hold up the line and advance to the centre!” This time the stronger looking zebra he had seen around the zebra mage where charging at the century. “Hold your ground” Bright yelled, as the Zebras crushed into the shield wall and broke the formation. Looking beside him Bright saw a zebra had run straight through the wall and pierced his lance trough a legionnaires head. He quickly swung round his mace into the neck of the zebra as it cracked and the zebra fell to the ground.

Looking to his right he saw Aria fire bolts of light at zebras who were charging into the lines blinding them before impact. Looking in front of him, he now saw a particularly bulky zebra come straight for him with a huge war hammer in his mouth. Bright looked as the zebra raised the hammer in the air,  No you won’t, he thought as he threw down his shield and ducked under the zebra his fling hearing the hammer crush something behind him. He quickly turned to see the hammer coming back at him for another go as he ducked to the ground and swung his mace at the zebras front leg which bended like a twig under the pressure, as a piece of bone pierced the skin and caused the massive zebra to fall into the ranks of the Century where he was quickly dispatched of by multiple stabs of enraged legionnaires turning the scene into a pool of blood. 

The legionnaires now clearly on the upper hand, started to advance to the middle of the courtyard while unicorns tried to block as many slinger shots from the walls as possible with their magic. Bright ran forward towards the Zebra mage before he was suddenly stopped in his track by an invisible force. As he tried to pull himself free he heard a voice in his head “A great disturbance I sense in you, consuming you in time is what it will do” And with that the zebra suddenly dissolved into a green cloud of smoke leaving a courtyard with angry legionnaires, and a handful of shocked zebra near the centre who dropped their weapons in defeat.

Bright looked around him and saw bodies of zebra and ponies cover the ground, heads bashed open, legs cut clean off and throats slit covering the ground with blood. “dispatch of those cowards” he called out pointing at the zebra in the centre who had thrown down their arms as they were quickly swarmed by legionnaires who had fallen comrades to avenge. No time for a fancy show but it pays off to let them blow off at least some steam, He thought to himself as he walked to the place where the zebra made has stood, the ground was covered with weird charms and plants that all looked to be radiating green light. “fucking zebra witchcraft..”  He muttered, as he gave the orders to clean out the fort and search for wounded.
“Aria, give the order to salvage this stuff” Bright Hoof said pointing at the charms on the ground “and make our century ready to march as soon as possible, we will march through the night if we have to I am not sleeping in this hellhole.”