Ponyfinder: Roots of Stone

by David Silver

67 - When in Rome

A day later, hiking through the warm and increasingly warmer sun as the ground become more and more dry, they spotted a force approaching.

Though Fast readied for battle, that readiness faded abruptly as she saw the colors being flown and the cut of the ponies that made up the band. "Imperialists! Praise the sun! I wouldn't have guessed that."

They marched in strict lines, each the same distance from one another as they made their way towards the group. At their front was a black-furred pegasus in gold or brass armor, much like the rest. He led them silently until they came close enough to speak, held up a hoof, and his entire group of ready-looking ponies came to a halt. "Fast Shadow, we had given you up for dead, and here you are, where few ponies would care to be." He held up a hoof towards himself. "I am Rome Silvanus, loyal to the Queen and not her pretenders. I trust your loyalties remain steadfast?"

Paul looked over the armored ponies. "Who in hell are these folk, Fast?"

Fast waved it off gently. "One moment, Paul. Yes, it's me, Fast Shadow. I'm not dead yet, and I have something of great interest for the empire."

"Oh? You had my curiosity, then stole my interest. What do you have?" Rome stepped forward, ears upright and directed at her before he paused. "I'm getting ahead of myself. This is no place to exchange information. Fall into formation and we'll return to camp. The area has been secured as best as we can and we can speak freely." He turned away. "I trust you have no objection to this?"

They fell in with the soldiers and began marching. Tabitha moved beside Fast. "You didn't mention you were famous or anything like that. Wait, does him being here mean we're in pony lands officially now?"

Fast shook her head. "I'm surprised to see him this far afield. They must be up to something if they'd come this way. I doubt we'll find out what until we're where he feels ready to speak. As for being famous, I was a mercenary of some renown, and not shy about being in favor of the Queen's time on the throne. Of course, at the time, I thought I was remembering long past times, now I can remember it quite clearly. Throws a new light on things."

Maud tilted her head slowly. "But you were there when she died, and before she became a Queen. How does no one remember you?"

Fast raised a brow. "That's a fine question, but I'm getting the idea the answer involves gods, at least one in particular. As she writes it, so it is, even if she decides to re-use a character." She clucked her tongue. "I'm not sure if that's a blessing or a curse. To be honest, I won't be too upset if my next go around is blissfully ignorant of this."

One of the soldiers strayed close to Tabitha. "Excus--"

"Back in file," barked Rome, glancing back at them with a scowl that sent the soldier quickly hustling back to his position. "Sorry for the interruption."

Tree looked around slowly as they marched. "So, he knows you, but do you grok him? Are you two friends?"

"Never met him," confessed Fast. "But he has the look of someone on the right side of this, so I want to hear what he has to say."

They came into a large camp. Ponies were sharpening weapons, repairing and polishing armor, and generally performing the tasks that kept such a large camp operating in the first place. Rome held up a hoof, stopping his men. "Alright, disperse. Follow standard schedule for duties. I'll be in my tent. We may be making a move, so be ready. Dismissed!"

With the sound of dozens on dozens of ponies saluting in armor, they scattered through the camp, leaving Rome to his guests. "If you'll follow me, kindly."

They followed him to a tent that looked much like the others. Tabitha eyed it skeptically as they approached. "Doesn't look like the leader's tent to me. It's not any bigger at all."

"Good." Rome glanced back at her. "They won't know where to focus their assassinations. I don't need a tent larger than this." He brushed open the flap of the tent with a hoof. "Head in. I wasn't raised in a barn, guests first."

Tree tipped her head at her guest. "Blessings."

"And blessings to you." Rome quirked an ear. "What god do you call to?"

Tree slipped inside with the others, carried in the traffic. "I listen to the song of the trees, of nature itself. I guess you could say I worship that."

"Possibly."

"But I like the Sun Queen, and she's been truly radical for me."

"Then we are well met." Rome stepped inside, letting the flap close behind. "May the Sun Queen smile on a new empire, stronger than the one before. Not to besmirch the name of the Queen, may she rest in peace."

Paul glanced around the spartan tent. "Right, well, name's Paul, nice to meet you...?"

"Rome Silvanus." Rome sat down beside a desk. He looked to Tabitha. "And you?"

Tabitha sank in a curtsey without toppling. "Tabitha, m'lord."

Rome raised a brow. "Not a lord yet, and may never be, but thank you." He turned his gaze towards Tree Hugger.

She raised a hoof. "Tree Hugger."

"There's a name that speaks true. And last, but I wager not least?"

"Maud Pie."

Rome nodded. "All in the company of Fast Shadow, one of the few Seekers willing to charge directly into the human lands in search of what could cure the empire's woes. Well, did you find it?"

Fast pulled open the flap of her saddlebag with her snout and soon had the crown drawn free. Rome's eyes widened. "By the gods. I'm no incanter, and even I can feel its import." He held out a hoof. "Let me examine it."

She drew the crown close. "I've been given this task by the gods themselves. They've made it clear I'm to see it to the rightful Queen, or King. I'll do just that."

Rome frowned at her. "Don't get ahead of yourself. We fight on the same side, and you are not an agent of her army. Allow me to inspect it."

Before an answer could be given, the wall to the left ripped open as a blade cut through it, revealing a trio of ponies in black that pushed in quickly and quietly aside from the noise of tearing cloth.

Rome made a motion to shout for help, but no noise escaped him at all. All sound vanished from around them. The fight was on. He drew a blade along with Paul, moving to engage the interlopers even as Fast stuffed away the crown.

The ponies seemed to have an interest in Fast and pressed for her, but neither Paul nor Rome were ready to allow that, intercepting two of them with wild swings. The other charged for Fast as Tabitha tried her magic. Like Tree, she was powerless to cast in the quieted area. Unlike them, Bright Feather needed no words to dive at the assailing pony and drive his stone-hard beak into an exposed skull with a strike that surely would have been loud if hadn't been silenced.

The blow was delay enough to turn Fast around, lance brought to bear at her side. With a silent cry, she met her attacker in a spirited charge. The pony rolled off to the side in an agile motion and came up with a dagger in its mouth that skidded across her thick armor in a shower of sparks. Not one to be ignored, Bright kept up his attack on the pony, driving talons and beak into the pony in the midst of what may have been a rousing duel, wearing down the attacker.

Rome drove his blade into the cloth of one of the silent attackers, revealing metal underneath. Paul came down with his heavy blade, knocking the pony back, and catching a dagger across the arm in return. It burned as whatever it was coated in seared through his veins in a hot rush.

Throwing herself at them suddenly, Tree entered the fray as a bear, driving at one of the silent attackers with great, if quiet, paws and gnashing teeth suited just as well for gutting a fish as it was prying apart their metal armor.

The pony facing Fast ducked around her lance and came up, slicing her saddlebag with his blade and sending its contents, along with the crown, scattering across the floor. The pony dove for them, just to catch Fast's hoof as she caught his head between herself and the sandy floor. She drove downward, crushing the would-be thief with a silent snarl.

The other two attackers backed away suddenly before vanishing from whence they came, simply disappearing.

"Damn." Rome frowned. "They must have teleported, or we'd still be silent." He turned on Fast. "Is that one still alive?"

"Afraid not." Fast stepped off the pony even as she scooped her crown back up from the floor. "He underestimated how much I planned to keep this."

Rome waved a hoof. "You did nothing wrong, but questioning them would have been useful. Tree Hugger, I'm guessing based on your name, but you are a druid, are you not?"

"Totally." She moved for Paul. "Hold still." She banished his wounds with a soft whisper to nature.

Tabitha shook her head quickly. "That was just terrible. I couldn't do anything!"

Fast tucked the crown on the other side of her saddlebag. "Oldest trick in the book. Silence spell. It was probably cast on one of the two that ran away."

Rome grunted softly. "It seems even my camp isn't assured safety, but where is, in these troubled times? I'll have a fresh set of bags brought for you. It's more important now than ever that you succeed in your task. Where do you plan to go? The closer you get to the heart of the empire, the more resistance you may face."

Fast's expression soured. "Why? I'm getting them another queen, damn it all. They should be celebrating, not sending assassins."

Rome chuckled softly. "Some would rather keep their petty powers, to say nothing of the pretenders..."

Fast shook her head slowly. "Bring us up to speed on what's been going on while I struggled to fetch this."

Author's Note:

Welcome to the pony empire! As a special offer, you get a free batch of assassins! Act now and we'll include 3 for the price of 2! Typos are no additional fee!

Comments

[Booster Spice]

If you take the Feat, Silent Casting(?), do you get to cast Vocal componants under a Silence effect?

Sorry, Was just shutting down for the night and dont have Gen open.

Talk about saving up the encounters.

Good thing Alchemist wasnt a class skill, bombs aint too good in such close quarters. As for all the tents look the same, well, its the one the target entered?

[albedoequals1]

and his entire group of ready-looking ponies came to a half.

halt

I thought I was remember long past times,

remembering

They followed him to a tend that looked like much of the others.

tent...much like (or "like many of")

I guess you could say I worshiop that.

worship

"Not a lord yet, and may never, but thank you.

never be

He turned his gaze towards Tree Hugger. She raised a hoof. "Tree Hugger."

He turned his gaze towards Tree Hugger.

She raised a hoof. "Tree Hugger."

The ponies seemed to have an interest for Fast and pressed for her,

in

The blow was delay enough to turn Fast around, land brought to bear at her side.

lance

The pony rolled off to the side in an agile motion and came up with a dagger in its mouth that skidded across her thick armor in a show of sparks.

extra space...shower

Bright kept at the pony, driving talons and beak into the pony in the midst of what may have been a rousing duel,

up his attack ("may have been a rousing duel"? Don't you remember?)

Tree Hugger, I'm guessing based on your name, but you are a druid, are you not?"

Turning into a bear is another hint.

As happy as Fast was to see the imperialists, any organized pony factions are more likely to be a liability at this point. Anyone that's maintained power through the chaos is probably a tyrant. I was not expecting this kind of trouble so soon, since they're still in purrsian lands. It's only going to get worse from here.

"Fast Shadow, we had given you up for dead,

Ooh, that's awkward. Or did they meet after her last reincarnation?

"Never met him," confessed Fast.

Ok then. Awkward. Things may be about to get complicated.

[Damaged]

6818080

Turning into a bear is another hint.

There are odder companions in pony lands, that can slip their shape so easy ;)

[David Silver]

6818080 Yarg, so many typos! Put to rest.

[Rome Silvanus]

Have yet to read it.

But hey, it's-a me. Rome-o.

What a nice surprise :D

The empire will rise again

Also if anyone wants to know what Rome looks like in Ponyfinder:

derpicdn.net/img/view/2016/1/10/1063703__safe_solo_oc_oc+only_pegasus_armor_male_wings_stallion_helmet.png

[Daremo]

And the quest resumes with new players for our heroes to meet.

It looks like the ponylands will be no less challenging than the rest of their journey, perhaps worse because enemies may more easily come in the guise of friends.

[Steel Prism]

Arrr yes those that want to be the Queen and would go about killing anyone that would want to stop them. What has the empire come to.

6819210 Good to see that there are some ponies out there still loyal to the Queen and the empire. Also it's always good to have a little moment in the spot light.

[AyanamiRei]

Noooooo!! I'm all caught up and there's no new chapters to read T__________T

Still I am totally enjoying this new set with this group of Adventurers. Keep up the good work! <3

[David Silver]

6819593 Glad you're enjoying the ride!

[AyanamiRei]

6819702 I'll admit I was a little skeptical at first about a story with Maud & Tree Hugger, but it's worked quite well.

I can't wait to find out more about these Imposters & Assassins!

[RadicalDishonesty]

Fast's expression soured. "Why? I'm getting them another queen, damn it all. They should be celebrating, not sending assassins."

Rome chuckled softly. "Some would rather keep their petty powers, to say nothing of the pretenders..."

Yes. Everyone who doesn't want a new queen is naturally petty, and they definitely should want a new queen to be ordained by a god they've never met and may not worship.

The only options are bad people, or supporting the new queen. Nothing inbetween.

[David Silver]

6822931 Are there a lot of good people that employ assassins?

[Rome Silvanus]

6822951
Finally got to read it. And totally kicked their treacherous pony butt. Now they know who's the awesomest pegasus around! ©

>Meets armed troops who tell that they are loyal to the old empire
>Rome knows Fast Shadow
>But Fast Shadow doesn't know Rome
>"Never met him"
>Admits she doesn't know him
>First sentence is revealing that they have something of great interest for the empire
>In front of a small army
Girl, you're one easy trusting pony.
This is giving me a slight, albeit small, headache. Though I'm curious to which extend they know of each other, resp. famous they are/were in and around Ponyland. I mean, I don't know how you planned to integrate him exactly into the rest of the story (if at all, hell this could be all of him :v), especially seeing as he also will appear in the official Ponyfinder book

Also there's something you may look into:

"I am Rome Sylvanus,

Yay, it's me! You actually used the correct way of writing my name further down [Rome Silvanus)
and

Shit, I can't find the other typo anymore

>Turns into bear
>"I'm guessing based on your name you're a druid?"
Whoa there, Army-boy, don't go around accusing ponies without proof!!!

Damn, I suck at securing my own camp.

Don't mind me, I'm just dancing here
And spamming up the comments
God, I love shitposting
Okay I'll stop now :v
i.giphy.com/xT77Y0c63hVeWpQqJ2.gif

[David Silver]

6824798 Typo fixed! Your cameo's not quite done yet!

[Rome Silvanus]

6824957
Yay. C'mon, I'm just waiting for my own trilogy book series. You know you want to do it :v

[blindbronyinblack]

Looks like Maud took a break for that fight.

[David Silver]

6925143 Or did she?

[Chrome Masquerade]

She drew the crown close. "I've been given this task by the gods themselves. They've made it clear I'm to see it to the rightful Queen, or King. I'll do just that."