The Sentinel of Equestria

Once we returned the library, we spent an hour making next weeks schedule. At least I know what day it is now. After that, she had me shower before heading off to lunch. She made the sandwiches and I had to find all of the plates and cups to fill the bottom of the picnic basket. After going over that I didn’t eat flowers or hay, she packed an apple and a pear for me though I told her I didn’t need anything at the moment.

The dragon, Spike, walked in through the door just as we were about to leave. “I got your stuff.” He said annoyed before storming off to the kitchen.

“What’s his damage?” I ask grabbing my chest plate.

“Spike gets jealous easily. He doesn’t like anypony else in his position.”

“Anybody.” I corrected.

“You say what you like and I say what I like okay?”

“Fine by me. As far as I’m concerned I’ll be walking up any minute now. So until that I’m just going to roll with it.”

“You keep telling yourself that. Get your armor and let’s go.”

“On it.”

I look at my old armor. The craftsmanship would have impressed Vulcan himself. The light gray plates didn't reflect as much light as the golden inlays. I slide the chainmail shirt on over my purple shirt, rolling my shoulders trying to get the neck of the shirt where I want it. The “iron girdle” was the next section that had to be put on. From the waist of the armor plating, three leather strips studded in iron draped down over my groin and upper thighs. I bend over as far as I can in the girdle to make sure the plates still articulated the way they were supposed to. The chest piece was custom. Unlike the standard issue of the shoulder pads and belly plate, a silver eagle, made of several strips of triangular metal, spread its wings across my chest as I tie the leather lases together. Once I had secured the shoulder pads and my dagger to my left side, Twilight lead me through town.
I find it strange that, despite her wings, she doesn’t fly anywhere. It’s not like she just got them right? These thoughts continue to buzz through my mind as we walk to the outskirts of town. In the distance I see a single cloud in the sky and a lone mail box sitting in the middle of the hills.

“Why are we even-”

“Twilight! Look out!” a familiar voice shouted.

I quickly drop the basket and look up towards the sky with my hand clutching the hilt of the dagger. A blur of light blue and the seven basic colors of the rainbow streaks towards me. Everything slows down again, the mare known as Rainbow Dash became clear as my dagger left its scabbard. The blade was at the bottom of my left hand as I swung at the Pegasus. She saw the blade and immediately pulled to the right. She wasn’t far enough away to dodge the blade however. The enchanted blade passed through her skin at the ribcage and came out near her hindlegs leaving no marks on the rainbow haired Pegasus.

She didn’t have time to pull up either. She was forced to land a few yards away. After she slid to a stop about fifteen yards in front of me, she looked herself over. She saw the blade enter her chest but the blade didn’t leave a mark on her; no blood, no guts, no nothing.

“How is that-”

“Rainbow Dash!” Twilight shouted in anger. “What the hay are you doing?”

“This guy was trying to sneak up on you! How’d you escape?” she said getting in my face.

“If you would be ever so kind as to GET OUT OF MY FACE!”

“Make me tough guy.”

The Pegasus was enveloped in a light purple aura and was dragged away from me.

“Stop, both of you!” Twilight said like a parent stopping siblings from hitting one another.

“But-” Rainbow and I said in unison.

“No buts. Rainbow, you remember Jack don’t you?”

“You mean the guy that pulled a knife on me two weeks ago? Yeah, I remember.” She growled.

“Well, he’s actually a nice guy. So if you could just not try to kill him until after we finish eating lunch…”

“If I say yes will you let me go?”

“Yes.”

“Then fine.”

The aura vanished and she dropped to the ground. She still didn’t look to happy with me.

“So you’re not a bad guy?” Rainbow asked me as I leaned over and grabbed the basket.

“Yes. Believe it or not I’m not here to hurt anything.” I reach under the flap of the basket and pull out the apple Twilight packed for me. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a job to do.”

“And that would be?”

“Guarding me.” Twilight interjected.

“And that involves you going somewhere?” Rainbow said looking to me.

“Perimeter check. Just shout if you need something. I’m almost never out of earshot when I’m needed by someone.” I take a large bite out of the apple and start towards the bottom of the hill from the way we came from.

“Weirdo.”

“I heard that.”

As I walk around the hill, apple in hand, I start trying to pick this Rainbow Dash character apart. At first glace, she seemed to be brash and full of herself. Quick to judge and even quicker to act. She would have made one hell of a Centurion back home.

Home. NO! Stop thinking about it! You have a job to do Jack, like it or not. And thinking of home isn’t going to help you at all. I take the last few bites of my apple and drop the core at the bottom of the hill before continuing to patrol the perimeter.I faintly hear the two friends speaking at the top of the hill as I continue my sweep. I eventually finish pacing about the parameter and return to the picnic blanket Twilight had set while I was gone.

“So, any dangers milling about?” Twilight asked.

“Besides yourself?” Rainbow Dash added.

“Rainbow.”

“It’s understandable. I’d have the same unpleasant demeanor towards something I was sure was a threat.” I say a bit mockingly.

“Whatever.”

“Please, Jack, sit.” Twilight said patting the blanket.

“If it’s all the same I would rather stand.”

“I insist.”

“As do I.”

We look at one another for a moment before she just sighs and shakes her head.

“Do you even know who you’re disrespecting right now?” Rainbow Dash asked me.

“At this point I don’t care.”

“You should buster.”

“Rainbow, be nice.”

“Why should I? He could be here to concur Equestria. Why should I be-”

“Rainbow!”

“What? He’s not listening.”

It seems I forgot stator of the obvious. I’ve had my back turned for half the conversation between the two.

“It doesn’t matter.” Twilight continued. “And you.” I start to feel my as though the ground was falling out from beneath me, slowly. I look down and see my feet a few inches off of the ground and my body surrounded in a light purple aura. I try to struggle but my limbs are stuck as this magical grip holds me in place. I start rotating slowly to face the two talking mares. “Sit.”

The aura around me drops and I land heavily on my leather clad feet. I glare at the alicorn hoping she just accepts that I don’t wish to sit.

“If you’d rather, I could take your legs out from under you.” She said not disengaging from our battle of wills.

I don’t think I’m that great. To this day I still wonder why I was elected praetor by the people. I never claimed to be unbreakable or unbeatable; but it’s very hard to beat me. Knowing she had the capabilities to do as she wished, I sided against my pride and sat. As I reached back to push my pack out of the way, I do not feel its worn leather. I verbally announce my confusion and start looking through my memory trying to see if I had my bag before I came here and before I was knocked out.

“What is it?” Twilight asked.

“My pack. I thought I had it with me when I arrived.”

“You had a purse when-”

“It’s not a purse. It was a just brown leather pack.”

“Leather?” Rainbow asked.

“Stretched cow hide.”

“You kill cows for their skin where you come from?” Twilight asked.

“Not just for the skin. We use every part of the animal for many things. Mostly food.”

“That’s discussing!” Twilight reeled.

“What? Are they sentient here as well?”

“Yeah they are! Carnivore!”

“I can live without meat Rainbow. I just need to eat more of other foods to compensate.”

“And I should believe that why?”

“I can grantee you that where I come from we burry dead horses. Their bravery is as honored as the eagle’s strength and loyalty. You have nothing to worry about.”

“That doesn’t make any sense.”

“It means I don’t eat horses. If anything we revere them. Some of the old legions had horses as their mascots.”

“Legions?” Twilight asked.

“Armies of Rome. A new legion for each province she concurred. There were thirty before she fell.”

“I knew you were here to concur us!”

“No. That was when the world was still up for grabs in terms of land. The most common way to settle debates of that magnitude back then was conflict.”

“What did you do back home?” Twilight said nervously changing subject.

“I was Praetor. One of two. Praetors are the leaders. Chosen by the people and given directions by the senate. We also lead the army. We serve two year terms before the elections come. The only thing that was required was that you were a member of the legion.” I roll up my left sleeve and reveal my tattoo. “This is the mark of the legion. It’s unique for each member of the legion. It shows what they are meant to be in the legion. It manifests when they have proven themselves. Mine in particular-” black eagle with two crossed gladiolus swords behind it with its wings spread and the letters SPQR under its talons atop of four parallel bars. “-symbolizes the strong warrior of Rome. The eagle symbolizing the strength and unwavering spirit of the one that bears it, the swords the heart of the soldier.”

“And the lines?”

“Years of service. I dedicated four years of my life to the legion, not counting my five as a probie.”

“What about the letters? What does SPQR mean?” Rainbow Dash said getting uncomfortably close.

“If you would hover over a foot I’ll tell you.” She moved herself back as asked and I continue. “They stand for Senātus Populusque Rōmānus.”

“In English please.”

“For the Senate and People of Rome. It’s the battle cry of the legion. We fight for the people, not ourselves.”

“That’s awesome. It’s like a cutie mark.”

“A what?”

“A cutie mark.” Twilight added. “It shows a pony’s meant to do. It appears when a they discover their special talent. See.” Twilight looked to her hindquarters and I notice the pink six pronged star with another white four pronged star behind that.

I looked to Rainbow Dash and see hers. A white cloud blasting a rainbow lightning bolt from its underside.

“In some ways it seems yes, they are.” I say rolling my sleeve down.

Twilight smiled and looked towards the sun. “Well, it was nice having lunch with you Rainbow Dash, but we need to go and pick up my dress from Rarity. Jack could you fold the blanket?”

“Sure.” Did I actually sound a bit happy when I said that?

Whatever, I’m insane at this point anyhow. I wait for Twilight to get up from the blanket and I fold it up into a tight square. And stuff it back into the basket with the silver ware and plates. I offer a kind grin to Rainbow Dash as we head back into town.