The Sentinel of Equestria

The cool spring air blows through my armor as I stand atop the steps of the senate building. I look down at the oath I took on these steps as Praetor the year before. By my life and honor, I swear to protect and serve the senate and people of Rome with destination and honesty. I see twenty of sixth cohorts’ troops run past shouting at the top of their lungs “Senātus Populusque Rōmānus!” Though Latin is natural to almost all members of the New Roman Legion, most prefer to speak English. Their battle cry is the one of the entire Legion, “For the senate and the people of Rome”.

I look upon the carnage that has become New Rome. Creatures from the depths of Tartarus flood the streets, destroying businesses and homes on their rampage towards the senate building only to be stopped at its steps by the Legionary’s guarding it, Imperial Gold Gladiolus’ at the ready. Legionaries are regulated mostly to security. The Immunes are the ones that normally handle the invaders, but today rank isn’t an issue. Griffins, Minotaur, Cyclops’, Harpies, Manticores, Drakons and even the Chimera, were just the surface of the siege. It wasn’t until I saw former Praetor Cipherus in his flying chariot, pulled by two ebony Pegasus, giving orders to the creatures and men he had recruited I could feel the battle was nearly lost.

I look back and I see my fellow Praetor, Anna James in her armor, wielding her pilum and shield. Her armor covered most of her light skin along with her trademarked tattered purple t-shirt and half of her blue jeans with her helm covering her long brown hair, only showing her bright blue eyes through its slots. She could only have been a child of Venus. But unlike her sisters, she was a warrior and is the only child of Venus to become Praetor. I am just another child of Mars, but one of the few that keep a cool head in battle. Anna stands next to me looking over the war unfolding before us.

“How long do we have?” her smooth, pleasant voice asks me.

“I don’t know, Rose.” I reply sadly. “We’re out numbered and we are losing ground fast. The Senate building won’t stand long.”

“Then we have to fight.”

“Take First Cohort and surround the main square, drive out anything that isn’t human. I’ll take Apollo’s archers from Tenth Cohort to the roof and provide cover.”

“Good luck Jack.” She said with a salute.

I saluted her back and she ran in the direction of the First Cohort barracks. I kneel down and take hold of my silver bow, a gift from the Goddess Diana, and slung it over my shoulders. Inside my quiver I feel her other gift weighing heavily on my mind. I quickly run for the scaffoldings behind the senate building only to be met half way by several hundred pounds of a Manticore slamming me into the side of the building. Looking up through blurred vision, I see its scorpion tail rise over its lion head and large bat wings and prepare to strike me down.

Before it could make another move, a wide head arrow pierced the top of the tail and continue going. The head of the Manticores tail fell from its deadly perch and the creature recoiled in pain with a roar of anger as it turned towards where the arrow was fired. Before it could let out a roar, another arrow appeared in its forehead. The beast yelped and crumpled at my feet. A boy in a white t-shirt, jeans, thin leather chest cover and flat helm knelt over me. His curved, Arcus long bow was clutched firmly in his hands as he looked me over.

“Sir, are you okay?” he asked as several others dressed like him knelt at the corners of the senate building with bows drawn.

“I’m fine Aaron. I was just coming for you.” I said standing up.

“Where is your helm, Sir?”

“Inside. Aaron, I need you and your archers at the top of the Senate building. No matter what, that building cannot fall. As far as you and I are concerned, this is Olympus now.”

“Yes Sir! You heard him, get to the roof. We’re going to hold off here!” Aaron shouted to his brothers and sisters.

Without hesitation they followed us to the top of the Senate building. We quickly surrounded the bronze dome and began raining all the arrows we could. The weight of Diana’s gift in my quiver grows as I pull explosive, smoke, net arrows from my quiver and launch them at the growing crowd of monsters approaching the steps. From my right I see Anna charging in with all of First Cohort behind her, shouting like mad men from the barracks.

“Provide covering fire!” I shout to my men.

“Covering fire!” Aaron parroted back to the men.

I notice the archers shooting closer in and past First Cohort. Down below, a Monitor stumbled towards the stairs roaring in pain and anger, trident in hand. I reach back and grab the first arrow I could grab. I notch it and look at the tip. The imperial gold tip glows red hot and pops waiting to burst. I drawl the bow string back to the right corner of my lip. Everything slows down and the drone of the battle slowly fades from my ears. The gift of Mars. The ability to slow a battle and make every move count. The Minotaur practically stood still as I release the arrow. As it cut through the air, a stream of fire trailed from behind the arrow head. The shaft bent back and forth, straightening its flight path as it went along.

Time began speed back up and the roar of the battle began to flow back through my ears. The arrow made contact right in between its horns on top of the Minotaur’s head. The burning head of the arrow instantly erupted in a massive fire ball, knocking a burning Hurth over into the coble stone streets and spilling its embers. When the fire ball subsided all that remained of the creature was a pile of golden dust blowing in the wind and a rusty trident.

Before I can go back to long range fire, I look up and see our parameter falling. The medics were dying as fast as the soldiers against the enemy monsters. Being a son of Mars, battle strategy on the spot comes with the lineage, and any son of Mars could see that the battle was going downhill fast. I freeze looking upon my dying city; buildings falling, arches collapsing, fields burning. Once again the sound of the battle left my mind. I could only hear my own shallow breathing as men fell where they stood. Nothing slowed for me however; I am forced to witness the fall of my city fall in real time.

“Sir!” a voice said behind me.

Looking back I see Private Sam Kidd, a young scrawny, Probie, son of Mars. He was normally regulated to guarding the Senate Building, but it seems he was reassigned to fighting a war. Blood and dust cover his bronze armor and his brown eyes were blood shot.

“What Probie?” I shout over the battle.

“Our lines are falling, Sir! What are your orders?” his voice cracked.

Aaron looks at me as I prepare and answer. “Where is Anna?”

“Still fighting, Sir. She wants your opinion.”

I wrack my mind looking for any way to keep this battle form being lost. But there is only one thing that was coming to my mind. The Goddess’ gift feels heavy in my quiver. I reach back and sling my quiver off my back while holding my bow towards the Probie. “Take my bow and quiver to Rose. Make her leave New Rome no matter what. Those are my orders.”

Sam looked stunned at my order. “What of the other troops, Sir?”

“Take Tenth Cohort with you. Do not look back. If you do then you will never see Rome again.”

“Wh-what are you going to do, Sir?” Sam said taking hold of my only weapons.
I reach out and take hold of silver arrow in the center of the 10 remaining arrows in my quiver. “Leave it to me.” I tell him.

The arrow, from the fletching to the edge of the arrow head, was completely chromed silver. The head wasn’t a traditional arrow head. It was a white, hexagonal shape, around two inches long, tapering to a point at either end.

“Go find Anna, and give her this.” I say finally taking my dog tags off my neck and handed them to Aaron.

They only look at me as though I just died in front of them. The three of us looked at one another for a moment before Aaron was able to give an order. “Fall back men,” he says loud enough for them to hear. “The city has fallen.”

“You may return after the battle. You will know when it is over. Go!” I command as Aaron’s troops leave the roof with Sam close in tow. I watch as Sam runs into the battle. I scan the crowd below with him on the ground, looking for Anna. It wasn’t hard, her silver armor made her stick out. I watch as Sam stops Anna’s killing spree. He pointed in my direction and she looked up at me. We locked eyes across the square and I could see the tears appear on her cheeks in the mid-day light. Then anger took hold and she stuck her blade into the nearest monsters skull. Even from the distance I was at, I could tell how begrudgingly she turned and ran, commanding First Cohort to follow.

“Te amo.” I mumble to myself.

It wasn’t long before people saw Anna retreating with the legions finest soldiers, many of which were my brothers and sisters. When they did it only took a few minutes for them all to surrender. Cipherus’ chariot came to a stop in front of the Senate building.

“Well, well brother,” Cipherus bellowed stepping out of the chariot. “I see you have realized how futile your attempts of defense are.”

It was insulting to me to know that I was related to this disgrace to Rome. His bald white head, long face and nearly black eyes made him a stereotypical son of Mars. I was utterly silent as I walked behind the dome and to the scaffolding.

“Hold!” Cipherus calls out to his men. “He isn’t going anywhere.”

He was right. The climb down was long and the walk to the front stairs was even longer. As I walk I remember what Diana had told me. This final gift is to be used wisely. Once alight, upon impact and in a flash, all monsters in its path with fall to Tartarus along with any with a black heart. But any that look upon it after flight with not die, but be sent to an unknown place including the one using it. Be cautious, Son of Mars, this gift could be the last thing you ever use.

I walked around the side of the Senate building and was met with the gaze of a few hundred Roman soldiers on their knees and even more monsters looking at him. Cipherus’ old Praetor armor was insulting to Rome and all her people. I was ready to jam my arrow into his neck and die fighting hoards of monsters, but I had to save as many men as I could.

“Don’t look men.” I said to the soldiers.

“Yes, you wouldn’t want to see your leader at his all-time low.” Cipherus said confidently.

As I passed the Hurth, I stick the head of the arrow into the coals and lighting the arrow. Cipherus looked at me confused but he didn’t order his men to attack. All of my men looked down and didn’t seem like they would do otherwise unless ordered by me. I hold my breath and with one last mighty shout I bellow, “Senātus Populusque Rōmānus!”

And with those final words, I kneel and plunge the arrow head into the coble stone streets with all my strength. I was too close to not see the flash. I remember seeing the fear in Cipherus before he instantly disintegrated in a mighty roar of light and air. I am blinded as the light engulfs all of New Rome. I feel no pain but yet the fear I feel is pain enough make me scream in agony. I fade for a moment before my vision returns. I am no longer in the streets of New Rome but I am kneeling in a field or tall green grass and golden wheat. As I stand to take in my surroundings, it seems like I have reached Elysium, until I hear a blood chilling roar behind me.