Prologue

Ch1 prologue

The city of Rome was in flames.
Ponies ran amok with fear, screams penetrated over the roars of the intense fire as it consumed their homes and temples. The pegasi raced to the sky gathering storm clouds to combat the blazing inferno, desperate to save what they could. The spreading fire caused by individual ponies of the most desperate, on the run from a small battalion coming after them. It was days after Julius Caesar's death and his murderers were being hunted.
The general, Marc Ahuizotl, of the battalion led the charge as they chased down ten of the individuals out of the city. Once in the woods, the ten separated, the light of the moon their only source of light as they escaped into the thicket.
A sharp curse escaped from the general as he pointed to three directions.

"Don't let them escape you fools! I want them back alive!" He addressed to the twenty soldiers who took off running with their spears leveled to their sides, the glow of their horns lighting their way in the darkness. His ears perked his hand instinctively going to the hilt of his dagger as he faced the source. The glare of his silver armor mirrored the brightness of the moon as his blue caps shifted behind him.
His ears lowered as he saw a familiar wave of a red cape and the noticeable panting of the feeble pony, Lepidus. He was a skinny chestnut stallion who was quick on his hooves but in Ahuizotl's eyes, he was the weakest general known for being indecisive in battle and incompetent. The only thing he should be good for, is running errands.

"M-my Lord!" Lepidus called skidding to a halt, wheezing in between every word from the short mile run of the city. "I...I have news from the... C-Capital."

"Then speak!" Ahuizotl commanded harshly making Lepidus flinch from the volume of his voice. Lepidus straightened trying to give a serious front. It proved ineffective as Ahuizotl distinctively heard rattling from Lepidus's armor.

"We have The Liberators trapped in the Capital, I have six thousand of my troops ready to storm the building to be killed, all I need is your command and I shall send word to my-"

"Are you mad?" Ahuizotl interrupted taking a threatening step towards him. Lepidus sunk as Ahuizotl towered over him with his teeth bare. "You want to start a civil war? You fool! I want them gathered, not slaughtered! Let the senate deal with them and you call. Your. Army. Back."

Lepidus gulp. "B-but what about j-justice for Ceas-!"

Ahuizotl slammed a closed fist of his tail on the ground making the trees shake from his strength. "Justice!" he roared. "You want justice or all of Rome to burn!? Go back to your pitiful post and call your troops back! Now!"

"Y-yes my lord!" he replied taking stride, tripping over his own hooves as he ran back towards the smoldering city. With a bitter scoff Ahuizotl focused to Rome. Orange and yellow hues swirled in the distance, dancing against the smoke in a solitary and mystifying dance. It seemed to moved in rhythm, the heat of the fire confident and grand against the gentle pull of the smoke, before bowing away as the lingering fire began to die out. The vivid dance ending.
His eyes turned to the misty blue sky; the constellation of Romulus and Remus hovered above the great city. A good omen for the protection of his great city and his people. He could only hope that the death of his close friend, Caesar, would not have a lasting effect towards the future.
Dawn broke over the horizon, the brilliant crimson and soft pink laid across the stretched clouds. The color of blood that seems to stain the white of a tunic. The familiar clanking of armor and soft begging made Ahuizotl shift away from the warm rays towards the cool shade of the land. Before him stood the condemned. Thrown harshly onto the dirt at his feet, rope bound around their legs one look at Ahuizotl and they pleaded for their lives.

"Free us!"

"We were only liberating the state from that tyrant!"

"Please let me go! I had no part of his killing! I did not held the knife!"

"You selfish coward! we all had a part! He deserved it, we were saving Rome!"

Ahuizotl let out a snarl. "Gag their mouths-I wish not to hear their pathetic whimpering." Once they were promptly silenced, he noticed a few of them were missing. Once there was ten but now there were six.

"Where are the rest?" he growled, addressing to his troops of twenty as he paced in front of the criminals.

One of his soldiers took a step forward, a white unicorn. "They escaped us by taking the rock cliffs towards Crete. We could not make chase-"

Ahuizotl cursed bitterly, there was nothing they could do now. He would have to send the names to the public to be able to find the rest of The Liberators, the supposed name they called themselves for believing they were helping Rome, by murdering their most popular ruler.

"Drag them back to the Capital- hopefully that imbecile, Lepidus, managed to round up the rest of The Liberators." Ahuizotl said marching back to their city.

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It was months after the event of the fire and the capture of more than half of The Liberators. Ahuizotl sat in front of a large wooden table with scrolls long enough to reach the floor. He had one hand on a ink tipped quill and the other digging into the side of his head in sheer boredom.
He scribbled, stamped, rolled and placed the finished documents on the far right to be later taken by messenger pony to post them to the public.
Soft hooves echoed through the large room, without taking his eyes off of his work he addressed to the pony in front of him.

"Yes?" He asked with an irritated tone. "Can't you see I'm busy?"

"Is that any way to speak to your wife?" Replied a small voice. He casted his eyes upwards to his petite wife, Fulvia, a simple mare with short brown hair that matched her eyes as she wore a simple white gown with a gold sash around her middle. She had on a stern frown as she waited for his response. He let out a small sigh as he continued to scribble his signature onto the pages.

"Forgive me-but you know I can't be bothered when I am preparing the new laws." He sternly stated moving one finished scroll aside as he began on a new one.

"You seemed to always be busy-" she replied with a hushed voice. His quill stopped. "You spend more time here than at home."

"Rome is important, without Caesar it fell into utter shambles,it was in Caesar's will that enacted these laws. I must remained devoted to the people...."

"Shouldn't you be devoted to your wife first?" She spoke, her voice loud.

"Enough." He said with a tight jaw. She sunk back becoming passive. "I have no time to banter with you, return home, we shall discuss this later."

"If..if that is what you wish." She turned on her heels and speedily walked away. At the door she turned and bowed at an old earth pony before leaving the the room. The old stallion, Enobarbus, entered. He wore a red slash over his chest as he wore his silver and gold armor underneath his pearl-colored coat.

"Hello old friend!" He boomed, causing Ahuizotl to cringe followed by casting daggers to his loyal and most annoying friend.

"Seems I won't be getting any work done today." Ahuizotl muttered placing the quill down.

"Aw!-you should be glad to see me, well at less than to your dear wife." Enobarbus mentioned as he took a seat in front of the desk. Ahuizotl brow furrowed.

"She worries too much-it is starting to aggravate me....she thinks I spend too much time here and I'm starting to think she may be right." He said massaging his temple. He has been up to his neck in paper work and keeping the peace, he never could have a day to relax when everything needs to be in constant order.

"She is right-why don't you have a vacation?"

"A vacation? Well...I always wanted to go back to Egypt again and do some fishing."

"There you go!" His friend exclaimed. "That actually makes me feel better on the news I'm going to give you."

Ahuizotl eyes narrowed. "What news?"

Enobarbus let out a sigh. "You knew this was bound to happen..." He began."You remember Caesar's will?"

"Yes, yes, of course-he gave me the right to become the leader of Rome and a part of the treasury-"

Enobarbus nodded. "Yes, yes, that's true...until-"

Ahuizotl eyes widen slightly and his jaw clenched. "Don't tell me that good for nothing-!"

"I'm afraid so....he is outside as we speak."

Ahuizotl slammed both hands on the table with his teeth seething. "How dare he come unannounced!" he roared towards Enobarbus who ducked his head, moving his hooves in front him frantically as he tried to calm him down.

"Don't kill the messenger, my lord!" He exclaimed. "There is nothing we can do- its not in our right! You should at least greet him."

Ahuizotl placed a closed fist underneath his chin in thought with his nostrils flaring. With a flick of his tail he motioned to his friend as he moved away from his desk.

"Bring him in." he said stonely.

"Understood." Enobarbus bowed and headed towards the door. He stopped and turned his head halfway towards Ahuizotl. "You and I know this is for the best, even...if it's not the best for Rome." With that he opened the door and stood erect with extreme respect as he saluted.

Entering through the corridor was a tan colored stallion wearing a purple tunic with a dark red sash across his chest, a silver clutch held the sash it together with an insignia of a golden pony skull with red rubies for eyes. He walked silently up to Ahuizotl who held a stern frown before slowly muttering.

"Gaius Octavius Cabelleron."

Caballeron looked at Ahuizotl with an arch brow. "You must be Marc-Ahuizotl, my adopted father's successor, I presume?"

"You presume correctly."

"Yes, well not anymore you are not." He said bluntly making Ahuizotl eyes narrowed, offended by his words as he continued. "You are not fit to lead Rome anymore, as the adopted son of Caesar, you are relieved from your duty." with that Caballeron waved him off like a master to his slave and adding more to the insult took his seat behind the desk.

"Relived?" Ahuizotl growled with a whirl.

"Yes, relived." Caballeron repeated sternly. "Rome does not need a new tyrant."

"A tyrant?!" Ahuizotl slammed his tail to the floor, cracking the tile underneath. "I saved Rome from consuming fire, I brought justice from Caesar's murderers, I kept the peace, I am the natural leader of Rome!- and I do not need to follow the orders of a cowardly and idiotic stallion like yourself!"

"How dare you!" Caballeron yelled refusing to stand down. "You expect me to believe you are the Peacekeeper!? I see what you have done." Caballeron swiftly grabbed a scroll and waved it at him. "These laws, these taxes, these useless pieces of paper is just ways for you to collect in more of the treasures of Rome but not anymore! Now the treasury belongs to me!"

"I am reigning Consul-" Ahuizotl sneered. "I have more authority over the treasury and if its in my name, none of it belongs to you!" The news made Caballeron looked at Ahuizotl as if dumbfounded that for the first time, someone was actually against him. Even being the son of Caesar would not sway this general from his own personal duty but he does not need him to get what he wants.

"If you continue with this vendetta towards me then I would personally see you as an enemy to the state." Caballeron finished grimly. Ahuizotl let out a smirk and leaned back.

"You may be Caesar's son, but you shall never lead Rome-the people will want me in their favor and soon you shall be following my orders." With that, Ahuizotl turned and walked away from the fuming Caballeron.

Outside in the light of Rome, Ahuizotl walked down the white steps, with Enobarbus following close beside him with a look of seriousness across his face.

"What shall we do, my lord?-it seems that this "new leader" had all the authority and there is nothing we can do to go against him."

"Let him lead Rome for now, and once the citizens see how foolish this Caballeron is, they will rally at my side..." Ahuizotl stated confidently as he walked down the road watching as the ponies bow their heads at him. There is nothing to worry about, he would leave Rome to be watched carefully by Enobarbus and once Caballeron makes a mistake, the citizens would immediately call for his help.

"What will you do?"

"Like you mention before, my friend...I am going for a short trip to Egypt."

The River

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Chapter 1

“The river”

Ahuizotl sat silently on his large boat, holding a fishing rod in his hands. He had been floating on the nile for hours and had seen more crocodiles than fish. He bitterly cursed under his breath and pulled his rod out. He noticed something was nibbling his bait which indicated that there was fish. For the fifth time, he changed the bait and threw his rod outward. He sat and watched as a ripple effect was made, touching the side of his boat and skewing his image in the water. He saw his beloved city of Rome and its people in those waters. It was so simple when he was in power. The ponies obeyed his every command without question, he had full control of the army and had a private reserve of money and jewels to purchase private land for his own needs. Until it was taken away by the brat, Cabelleron. The rod snapped in between his hands making him furiously toss them aside. Luckily, he had three more in his possession.
When he cast his line, he saw another boat floating down the river towards him. It was a large boat, twice as large as his own. It was painted with gold and blue along it sides with egyptian writing. There were four egyptian servants with large sticks rowing the boat with ease and on the main deck was a veiled room, held up by golden pillars. It was an extravagant boat made for a pharaoh. Ahuizotl peered into the room and saw the shape of a pony, laying down on a curved couch. He must have been staring for too long as he saw the pony lift up its head and put up a hoof. The boat stopped immediately in front of him.

“Are you of rome, stranger?” asked the pony behind the veil. Ahuizotl realized it was a female.

“Yes.” Ahuizotl responded, bowing slightly. “Rome is my home and I came to Egypt to fish in your waters.”

“And how is it? The fishing?”

“Very poor.” Ahuizotl chuckled. “It seems they do not like my bait.”

“Really?” the pony clapped her hooves and a servant rushed to her, handing her a fishing rod. Ahuizotl saw her push aside the veil, just enough to cast her rod out. A few moments after hitting the water, the string was tugged causing the pony to swiftly pull it out. Ahuizotl eyes widened when he saw a fish attached to it. The pony let out a chuckle when she handed the fish to one of the servants.

“It seems the fish do not like you, Roman.” the pony laughed. Ahuizotl frowned, annoyed by how easily she acquired the fish.

“I would say it was beginner’s luck, my lady.” Ahuizotl sneered. She heard the pony huff in surprise.

“No such thing. Come along onto my boat and I will show you.” She clapped her hooves and immediately her servants dropped a makeshift wooden bridge, connecting their boats. Ahuizotl obliged. He did not want to offend an Egyptian royal.

“What bait are you using, Roman?” The pony asked. Ahuizotl lifted up a small leather bag. “Stale bread, my lady.”

“Ah.” She sounded. “The dry bread becomes soggy when it’s in water. Use these.” She clapped her hooves and one of her servants swiftly grabbed a bowl of dates. Ahuizotl arched a brow, picking up the small fruit and examining it.

“Fruit as fish bait? How absurd.”

He saw the figure turn around to face him. Even if the veil obstructed his view on what she looked like, he heard her chuckle from pride.

“Please and attach the date to your hook, oh mighty Roman. If you do not catch a fish, I will personally bow humbly at your feet.”

Ahuizotl hummed at the proposition. He attached the date to his hook and cast his line out. He expected to not catch a single fish, considering his luck but in a matter of minutes, he felt a tug at his line. He quickly reeled the rod back onto the boat and flopping at the deck, was a baby crocodile. The sudden surprise was enough to make the pony burst out in loud laughter, even her servants laughed at his misfortune. He bit the inside of his cheek, casting the crocodile aside and into the river. He was ready to bid farewell and return to his boat when the pony lifted herself up, parting her veil.
She had eyes that were the color of the finest rubies. She wore a straight, white dress with two shoulder straps. Around her neck was a gold necklace and her legs were covered with gold bracelets. Her hair was a mix of charcoal, parted down that it covered the side of her face. She took a few steps towards him and with a smirk, bowed her head fully at his feet.

“I humbly bow at your misfortune, Roman.”

Ahuizotl snorted and let out a deep chortle. “It appears that I have been curse, my lady.”

The pony lifted her head and eyed him. “What is your name?”

“Marc-Ahuizotl. Companion of Julius Ceaser.”

“Julius!” The pony exclaimed. “A friend of Julius is a friend of mine.”

“You know of Julius?”

“Oh yes!” The pony grabbed a date and popped it into her mouth. “We were lovers.”

Ahuizotl refrained from choking in disbelief. He knew that Julius Caesar travelled constantly to Egypt but he thought it was because he liked the culture.

“But it seems Roman law and Egyptian law proved to be problematic and we were not officially wed. Our courtship ended.But I do enjoy his visits. You must insist to him on returning soon.”

Ahuizotl frowned. “I am afraid that he cannot, my lady.”

She scowled. “Why?”

“He had been murdered by ponies he thought were his friends.”

Her eyes immediately went wide. They glossed over as she took a sharp breath. She lifted her hoof up to her chin, turning her head. Ahuizotl bowed his head apologetically.

“I am sorry to give you the terrible news, my lady.”

One of her servants brought her a handkerchief but she cast it away, refusing it. “No. I will not weep for dear Julius. But I will mourn for his soul. I shall mourn for him for fourteen days. In fact-“ she turned to one of her other servants. “Inform the people that we are all in mourning for fourteen days, this is a tragedy, all of my people must know.”

She turned to Ahuizotl, who held a hard expression. “You were close to Julius.” She stated. He nodded at her. “You must have sought justice for Julius.”

“I have. They had been hanged and burned.”

She nodded at him, satisfied with his answer. “How long do you plan on staying in Egypt?”

“A month.”

“Then I insist you visit my palace. I will have a banquet for you tonight and every night you plan on staying.”

“It is an honor, my lady.”

“Anything for a friend of Julius.” She turned away and began to walk to her lounge until Ahuizotl spoke up.

“Forgive me, my lady but I do not know of your name and Julius failed to even mention you in his trips.

The mare sniffed and smiled. “Yes, he wouldn’t mention me.” Ahuizotl bit his tongue. He shouldn’t have spoken up about it. “You haven’t offended me, Roman. I am sure Julius had his reasons.” She turned back at Ahuizotl. “My name is Cleopatra.”

Marc-Ahuizotl and Daring-patra

by DemonWriterX

Prologue

The River