//------------------------------// // Chapter 5: A new start // Story: The Eagle Of Equestria // by Romes_FinestPony //------------------------------// Chapter 5: A new start WHOOSH! A cyan blur zoomed across the blue sky, leaving behind a rainbow-coloured streak. Poof! A small, white cloud that was just peacefully floating by suddenly dispersed into nothing as the speeding splash of colour went right through it like a knife slicing through butter. Many other clouds met the same fate as the flying object went right through them. One by one, the clouds disappeared until all that is left is a clear, blue, beautiful sky. This all happened below 10 seconds. The fast-flying object finally slowed down, revealing the form of the creature. It was a Pegasi. A mare. Her magenta eyes glowing with excitement, Her slightly ruffled mane which has the same colours as the rainbow, waved happily in the wind as she exclaimed 'YES! I BEAT MY OLD RECORD!' She then gave a whoop of victory as she flew towards Ponyville. I wonder how Pinkie would react to my new awesome record! The Cyan mare thought gleefully to herself. Surely I can become a wonderbolt now! The cyan mare was flying towards a small town. It's colourful houses with straw thatched roofs adorned the lush, green valley that was surrounded by majestic mountains. A small river passed through the town, the water was gurgling rather lazily as it gently went with the current. Small, yet elegant bridges crossed over the small length of water. In the middle of the town, there stood a tall, grand building. Small banners of different colour waved gently with the wind. The town looked interesting. But the most interesting of all were the inhabitants. Ponies of different colours dotted the small town as they went about with their businesses. Pegasi, Unicorns and normal-looking ponies lived together in peace and harmony. The cyan mare took a deep breath and sighed, a happy smile was in her face. 'Ah. Ponyville. Like The.Best. Place. EVER!' She exclaimed. She then wore a thoughtful look as she slowed down. The first houses of the town were now directly below her. 'Hmmm... Well. Maybe Ponyville is the second best place. I mean, Cloudsdale is certainly 20 percent cooler! Or maybe Can-' 'Oh There you are Rainbow Dash!' The cyan mare, Rainbow Dash, was snapped out from her thoughts as a very lady-like voice called out from below her. She looked down and saw a white mare wearing a very classy hat. Rainbow Dash stopped in mid-air and gently flapped her wings as she descended 'Hey there Rarity! What do you need?' Rainbow Dash asked as she got close enough. The white mare then whined 'Oh Darling! I think you may have dispersed too many clouds Dash! The heat is making my mane too dry!' The white mare then looked at Rainbow Dash's side as if expecting some-pony to be right there. 'Rainbow Dash, have you seen Fluttershy? She was supposed to be at the spa with me today!' Rarity asked with a inquiring look. 'Uh. No. Sorry Rare. In fact, I haven't seen her all day!' Rainbow Dash rubbed her chin with her forehoof thoughtfully. 'Oh. There's always next week.' Looked down in disappointment. 'Besides, she must have a good reason for not-' 'Hey! Guess what?' Rainbow Dash asked, looking very excited. Rarity sighed as she replied 'What is it Dash?' Rainbow Dash hovered higher as smiled cockily, announcing 'I have finally beaten my old record!' Rarity smiled back 'That's absolutely wonderful Darling! But may I ask you of a favour?' 'Sure Rare! Fire away!' 'Please be a darling and find Fluttershy for me? I'm afraid if something terrible must have happened to the poor dearie.' 'Sure! I was gonna go looking for her anyway. I was gonna give her more cheering lessons.' Rainbow Dash smiled, giving Rarity a salute. Her right forehoof across her brow. 'Thank you Rainbow Dash! Do come back as soon as you can!' 'On it! I'll go check Fluttershy's hut first. Because, you know. She's Fluttershy.' Rainbow Dash launched herself high into the air with a strong flap of her wings. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 'Oh Thank you so, so much for helping me feed the animals Mister Silvanus!' Fluttershy gave a small, shy smile to the tall figure of the Roman. Silvanus looked down and smiled back. 'Oh It was nothing. I owe you for saving me after all. Oh and. Friends call me Silvanus.' They were standing outside the wire fence of the chicken coop. Silvanus' tattered tunic now has small, brown blotches of earth. It was also partially wet with his own sweat. On his head, sat a small basket full of chicken feed. Fluttershy blushed. 'Oh I couldn't turn away a poor-' Fluttershy blushed more deeply as she continued. 'Um. Forgive me for asking Mister- I mean Silvanus. But uh. What are you?' Silvanus' smile evaporated, and was now replaced by a look of shock. So. There really are no other people in here. Am I even in the same world? Silvanus' face paled. How did I even get here? Why were those bodies still with me when I appeared in this place? Was it the Druid magic on the rocks? Fluttershy saw the shock in Silvanus' face and she quickly added. 'Oh. you don't have to answer. You can... Only if you want to.' She then looked away quickly retreated back into her pink mane. Silvanus snapped out from his thoughts and looked down at the kind, timid pony. 'O-Oh. Of course I'll answer. I am a man. A Roman to be exact.' Silvanus quickly put on a smile on his face, trying to draw out the shy pony from behind her pink mane. The smile seemed to work. Fluttershy's face slowly emerged from behind her pink mane. As soon as Silvanus saw that Fluttershy was now looking back at him with a soft smile. 'Fluttershy?' Fluttershy's ears perk up, willing to answer any question Silvanus had for her. 'I take it that you have never seen a creature that looks like me.' Fluttershy slowly nodded. Oh. It must be so terrible to know that you are the last creature of your species. Fluttershy thought. Poor dear. Silvanus' smile slowly faded. He looked down on the ground, not wanting Fluttershy to see the shock on his face as he tried to digest the thought of being the only human in the land of "Equestria". 'Um. If you don't mind. Where did you come from?' No people. No Barbarians. No Rome. No more wars. I hope there are no more wars. Wordlessly, Silvanus slowly turned his head to face the dark Everfree forest. I have been in the army my whole life! I might become a danger for these peaceful ponies. What am I to do? What is my purp- Silvanus felt something soft and warm encompass his legs. He looked down and saw Fluttershy wrapping her forelegs around his belly. She was looking to her side. Silvanus didn't know what to say. He was surprised. Instead, he reached down and gently placed a hand on Fluttershy's head. 'Oh. It must be so terrible to be the only one. I'll try to ask Twilight for any way for you to go h-' Silvanus' lips formed a sad smile as he explained. 'Fluttershy, I don't have anything else to go back to. I-' Silvanus gave a small, sad sigh. Fighting back tears. By the gods. Why do I always end up crying. Silvanus thought as he continued. 'I already lost my family. Twice. I lost everything.' Flashes of memories invaded his mind. He remembered the first day of training with his comrades. He remembered the pranks they played on other Legionaries and their Centurions. His Comrades faces came into his mind. Lucius, Felix, Cornelius, Longinus, Herennius, Lupus and Leonidas. He even remembered the soft, gentle voice of his mother. His only memory of his long-departed mother. he can't put a face to the voice. Silvanus felt Fluttershy shake a little as soon as she heard him say 'I already lost my family. Twice.' A sob escaped her mouth when Silvanus said 'I lost everything.' Fluttershy looked up. Tears were in her eyes. Silvanus' eyes met hers. He gave Fluttershy a comforting smile, but her tears spilled out from her eyes anyway. Fluttershy leg go of Silvanus as he knelt down. Once they were in eye level, Fluttershy once again threw her forelegs around Silvanus' neck as she whispered. 'I'm sorry.' Silvanus hugged back, gently stroking her mane. 'It's Okay Fluttershy.' Fluttershy just sobbed. Silvanus remembered the pain and shock he received on the news that all of his friends and family members were dead from the vision last night. Silvanus just looked up to the sky and softly started to sing. Hush now, Quiet now, It's time to lay your sleepy head. He looked down expectantly. Only to see Fluttershy smiling softly back at him. Hush now, Quiet now, It's time to go to bed. Silvanus continued. This time, Fluttershy joined in. Their voices blended, making the melody even sweeter. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hmmm. Looks like there's no-pony home. Rainbow Dash thought as she knocked on Fluttershy's green, wooden door. 'Where could she be? Maybe she's at Twilight's. Or maybe she's finally met up with Rarity.' She mumbled as she turned. She spread her wings and crouched. About to launch to the air. She was about to leave when suddenly, she heard somepony singing. It sounded like a Stallion's. The singing voice suddenly stopped. She turned around and slowly headed towards her friend's backyard. She suddenly stopped in her tracks as the voice once again sang, this time, it was joined by another voice. Rainbow Dash can now make out the words as they sang. '-Ush, now Quiet now It's time to go to bed.' 'Fluttershy?' Rainbow Dash said to herself. She trotted over to peek out from the side of Fluttershy's house. As soon as her head poked out from the side of Fluttershy's house, Rainbow Dash Shouted in distress. 'FLUTTERSHY! WATCH OUT!' From Rainbow Dash's point of view, she saw a monster grab hold of one of her closest friends. Instantly hypnotizing her. 'I'LL SAVE YOU!' ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Once they finished singing, Fluttershy once more embraced Silvanus. 'I'm sorry about your loss Silvanus.' She whispered. Silvanus hugged back. Whispering back into Fluttershy's ear. 'I-It's alright. Thank you my friend.' Silvanus felt Fluttershy slowly stop shivering as he gently patted her back. She was calming down. But Silvanus can still feel Fluttershy's tears gently drip into the shoulder of his tattered tunic. Silvanus felt happiness in his broken heart. He felt happy that someone, or more like some-pony, actually felt sad for him. Silvanus wanted the embrace to never end. 'FLUTTERSHY! WATCH OUT!' A shout erupted from somewhere in Fluttershy's house. 'I'LL SAVE YOU!' Fluttershy's head turned towards the house. 'Rainbow Dash?' She broke the embrace and went airborne. Screaming out 'WAIT!' it came out from her mouth like a soft whisper. Silvanus turned to see who this "Rainbow Dash" is. All Silvanus saw was a blur of a spash of different colours zoom past him before his vision blurred and darkness encompassed his vision. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- '-ainbow Dash! Did you have to do that?' A soft voice whined. 'Oh come on Fluttershy! I didn't know okay? Sheesh!' 'You should apologize once he wakes up.' The soft voice turned to one that was assertive. 'Okay! Okay! Fine! Sheesh! Stop being to Assertive!' 'Ooh! Really? You think so? I think my Lessons are paying off!' Silvanus woke up to the sound of arguing. He slowly opened his eyes. 'Oh look! He's awake!' The Assertive softened to a soft whisper. Silvanus saw Fluttershy lean over him with a concerned look. Silvanus tried to sit up. He winced as he felt pain shoot up from the back of his head. Fluttershy gently pushed him back down. 'Shh. You mustn't. You hurt your head pretty bad.' She gently murmured. Silvanus was more than happy to comply. 'Ugh. What in Jupiter's name happened?' Silvanus asked. 'Oh. Uh. Hey there.' Silvanus turned to see a cyan mare with a rainbow-coloured mane. Wait a minute. Rainbow? 'Um. Sorry about Uh. A while ago.' The cyan gave him a rueful smile. She just stood there, rubbing the back of her head with a foreleg in guilt. Silvanus just stared at her. Rainbow Dash put down her hoof and started pawing the floor in discomfort. 'So. Uh. We okay?' Silvanus blinked twice 'Oh. That's alright. Ha ha. Gave me quite a hit back there!' He said with a smile. It's not normal for anyone anything to knock out a hardened Legionary with one hit. Silvanus reached out a hand and said. 'Ah. Were okay. Pretty good hit I must say.' Silvanus gave Rainbow Dash an impressed smile. She, in turn, took his hand with her hoof and gave it a firm shake. 'Oh. Good! So. What's your name?' 'Silvanus. Yours?' Rainbow Dash took back her hoof and made a proud, rearing pose. 'I am THE one and only, RAINBOW DASH! THE fastest flyer in Equestria!' Silvanus could not help but smile at the Cyan mare's pride. Fluttershy just watched with a soft smile as the two introduced themselves. 'So. What are you? And how did ya get here?' Rainbow Dash went back to being on fours and looked at Silvanus with an inquisitive look. Silvanus sighed and gave Rainbow Dash a sad smile. He hesitated for a moment. Only to see the growing curiosity in the mare's Magenta eyes. Finally, Silvanus sighed as he launched into his tale of absolute misfortune. 'Okay. It started like this...' And so, Silvanus narrated his story once again. Trying hard not to mention the battle. He also refrained from using the word "Death" or "dead" and only using words like "lost". He started his story in the Everfree. Only giving vague details of the glowing monoliths. At the mention of the name Zecora, Fluttershy's ears were piqued up in interest. It went unnoticed by Silvanus, who continued on narrating his story to the listening Rainbow Dash who was already sitting on the floor. Looking very impressed at the mention of how he managed to outrun three "Timber wolves" as what his two Pegasi friends corrected. Rainbow Dash looked down in sadness as Silvanus mentioned about his terrible loss. '... And the next part is where you hit me in the head.' Silvanus smiled jokingly at Rainbow. Rainbow Dash wordlessly trotted closer to Silvanus and gave him a gentle hoof-bump on the shoulder. She looked up to Silvanus' face and with a broken voice, said 'Hey, S-Sorry 'bout your family.' Silvanus gently ruffled her mane, laughing softly 'Thanks kiddo.' 'Um. If you don't mind, I'd like you to meet our other friends.' A soft voice piped from beside them. Silvanus turned to Fluttershy. 'Yeah. That would be nice. Though I think it's better to go unnoticed by the majority of pony population.' Silvanus turned to Rainbow Dash with a rueful smile. 'Judging on how Rainbow here reacted, I don't really want to be knocked out again.' 'Hey! I said I was sorry!' 'Nah. Your cool kid!' Silvanus laughed. 'Stop calling me kid! I'm all grown up you know!' Rainbow Dash huffed. 'We should go now. If you want to.' Fluttershy whispered once again. Silvanus stopped laughing and turned to her. 'Your right. I'm just worried. You know. Reflexes.' Rainbow Dash flew in front of his vision and giggled. 'You are pretty weird looking.' 'Thanks...' Silvanus mumbled. Gently rubbing the back of his head. 'Um. if you don't mind, I think it's better if we go to Twilight's place. Now would be good, before. You know... Dark.' Fluttershy gave a small shiver at the thought of walking in the dark. An idea came into his mind. What if, She just let them come here! I don't have to suddenly pop up in a street and cause panic and such. 'Hey Fluttershy! I think I have an idea.' And so, Silvanus brought out his suggestion. Rainbow Dash looked sceptical. 'Oh I dunno. I don't think any of them would believe me. All because of one small prank! Like seriously! One small Prank!' She threw her forelegs into the air in exasperation. Fluttershy too, looked like she was in doubt. 'Me neither. I don't think anypony would listen.' She gently whispered as she remembered the numerous times where she discovered something very important and was about to share her find, only to find everypony very busy panicking. Silvanus stared at the two pegasi who looked away guiltily. 'Fine. But on one condition. Fluttershy?' Fluttershy looked up. 'Yes?' 'I need my armour and my sword.' Fluttershy's eyes widened once Silvanus said the word "Sword". Rainbow Dash gave a little gasped. 'You have a sword? Are you a guard or something? That's like SO AWESOME!' Silvanus ignored Rainbow Dash. He saw the uneasy look on Fluttershy's eyes. He sighed 'Fluttershy. I promise to the gods and to my own honour that I will not harm a single pony.' Fluttershy calmed down a bit. 'P-Pinkie Promise?' She whispered. Silvanus looked at the two Pegasi in confusion. 'Uh. What's a P-' 'It's a promise you cannot break.' Rainbow Dash answered casually. She then turned back to Silvanus, wearing a mock evil grin. 'If you do break it, She'll get you!' 'Silvanus, you must keep your promise of not hurting a pony-' Fluttershy began, only to be cut off by another voice from outside. 'FOREVER!' 'BY THE-' Silvanus leaped back as she saw a pink blur run from the trees and towards the open dirt road. 'That's Pinkie Pie for you Silvanus!' Rainbow Dash laughed. 'Ya Should've seen your face! Absolutely Priceless! HA!' 'By Jupiter! Does she do that all the time?!' The Cyan mare was now rolling on the floor, holding her sides as she laughed. 'Okay. I take that as a yes.' Silvanus noted that they did not even flinch. They looked as if they were expecting for this to happen. Silvanus felt a soft tap on his shoulder. He turned and saw Fluttershy gently hovering beside him. 'If you don't mind, Just follow after me. Cross my heart-' She recited, illustrating the moves that went with it. Silvanus sighed in defeat. 'Fine. Cross my heart.' '-And hope to fly,' 'And hope to fly,' 'Stick a cupcake,' 'Stick a cup cake. Wait a minute, what's a cup cake?' Fluttershy ignored his question and moved on. 'In my eye.' 'In my eye. Was that really necessary?' 'Yes.' 'Okay then. So. where's my armour, my sword and my Legion's golden eagle?' 'I'll get your armour shortly. No. You shouldn't bring swords. And what's a Legion?' 'Thanks. Wait, WHAT?! I need my sword!' 'No's a No Mister.' Silvanus looked like he was going to argue some more. He gazed into Fluttershy's determined eyes and thought otherwise. 'Fine. Can't I just bring my small knife then?' 'That would be fine, as long as you keep it hidden. We wouldn't want to scare anypony.' Fluttershy answered reluctantly. 'Thank you M'dear Fluttershy!.' Silvanus flashed Fluttershy the most charming smile he could muster. At this, Fluttershy blushed at being called "M'dear". She turned and left to fetch Silvanus' gear. Rainbow Dash picked herself up from the floor once she calmed down. 'What's a "Legion" anyway? Silvanus looked down at Rainbow and gave her a rueful smile. 'I'll explain everything once we meet this "Twilight".' 'Eh. If ya think so.' She shrugged. 'So. About the way going there. We go undercover then.' 'No. For you to earn the other ponies trust, you must show them that you mean no harm.' Fluttershy hovered in, carrying Silvanus' armour. Silvanus walked over and relieved Fluttershy of her heavy load. Silvanus winced inwardly. Not again. 'Oh I don't know. They might think I'm hostile. By the way, Where's the Eagle?' Fluttershy raised an eyebrow but nonetheless, pointed to a nearby corner of the wall. There, the eagle leaned against one side. 'With that Awesome armour? I think your intimidating enough with that cool helmet! Can I wear it for you?' Rainbow Dash trotted up to Silvanus as he applied his armour. Once Silvanus finished applying on his armour, he walked over to the corner and took the golden eagle standard of the 19th. Rainbow Dash followed him along the way, commenting on how "Awesome" and "Cool" he looked. Silvanus turned to Fluttershy. 'So. We should go undercover. I can reveal myself in a later date Fluttershy. Please?' Fluttershy firmly shook her head from side to side. Oh by Neptune's seaweed beard. This is going to take long. Silvanus thought. He pleaded once more. 'Please?'