The situation in town hasn’t really changed since I was on the hill. Everything there stared at me, even the birds. My armor clanged as I walked next to the purple alicorn. My eyes stayed forward and I walked in a straight line following Twilight through town. We eventually came to what looked like a massive, blue carousel with a pink roof and two pony mannequins standing atop it like gargoyles. It looked to be at least two stories tall. The first had two large circular windows next to the front door.

“Someone works in that thing?” I ask looking the building over again.

“And lives. Rarity’s the best designer in Equestria. I bet she could even give you a new wardrobe.” Twilight said opening the door.

“What’s wrong with my cloths?” I ask somewhat insulted.

“What’s wrong with living in this place?” Twilight said with her brow knit.

The interior wasn’t any less girly. The floors and walls were pink. A small round stage sat in the middle under a dome with three large mirrors. Behind them are two changing rooms. Along the walls are vanity tables with various cosmetic products neatly stacked and grouped on it.

“This place reminds me of Venus’ barracks back in Rome.” I say with a groan.

“Venus?”

“Twilight darling? Who are you talking-” a paper white unicorn with a purple mane and cobalt blue eyes stepped out from a door on the right behind the changing rooms and stops in her tracks seeing me. She lets out a powerful shriek and jumps to the chandelier in a blur. “What is that thing!?”

“A bit of an over reaction.” I say.

“It talks?” She grips the chandelier harder shuts her eyes revealing her mint eye shadow.

Twilight looks to me and laughs nervously. “Rarity…” she says flying up to the chandelier. “This is Jack.”

Twilight puts her forelegs around Rarity and pries here off of the chandelier. I don’t bother moving in hopes of not scarring her anymore. Once on the ground, she hides behind her purple friend.

“Rarity, he’s not going to hurt you.”

“Easy for you for you to say. Have you seen his hairdo, those awful cloths, the bloody cloth on his face and that scowl.” She cringes. “He practically screams ruffian.”

I’m scowling? I hadn’t noticed but a quick look in a mirror I notice that my brow is knit and my head is lowered. I soften my expression and take a seat next to the door.

“My apologies Rarity.” I say as nicely as I possibly can.

“Look, I don’t care if you’re sorry or not, I want you out.” Rarity says suddenly acting dignified.

“He can’t. It’s along story Rarity. But the jist of it is, he’s my personal guard for the time being.”

“I don’t care what he is, he’s filthy.”

“You would be too if you were chased by a manticore and kicked in the face by a Pegasus.”

“Well I’m sure you deserved it.”

“Could with any possibility get what we came here for and get out, Twilight?”

“That’s Princess to you buster!” Rarity says as though I insulted Twilight by not using her title.

“Rarity!” Twilight finally interjects. “Is my dress fixed yet?”

“Yes, allow me to fetch it for you.”she said turning her nose up to me.

“Charming friend you have there. I’m sooooo sure she’ll make me a wardrobe now.” I say as she walked out of the room.

“Okay, so she didn’t take to you like I thought she would, that doesn’t mean she’s a bad pony.”

“I’m not saying that.” Why am I defending my personal image here? “All I’m saying is she’s not the kind of person I like to be around.”

“What do you mean?”

“Obsessed with her own looks, thinks she’s better there everyone, stuck up, right down to the way her place is decorated. All signs of one of Venus’ kids.”

“Why do you keep talking about that planet?”

“Where I come from, Venus isn’t only a planet, she’s a Goddess.”

“A Goddess?”

“Yeah, Goddess of Beauty. Her kids aren’t my type of people. They always patronize and try to change people into their own version of beauty.”

“Rarity doesn’t-” Twilight stopped and thought for a moment. “Okay she does that on occasion but she means well. She just has to get to know you a bit before she shows her true colors. a lot like someone else in this house.”

“Whatever. I-” a low rumble shakes the floor boards beneath my feet. Twilight looks at me befuddled before hearing it.

“What is that?”

I listen closely. The rumble kicks my mind into overdrive. Only a minute after the rumble starts, screams of panic and shouts of rage filter through the door.

“Get up stairs and lock the doors.” I say quickly drawling my dagger.

“Why? What’s going on?” She asks me a little worried.

“No time, GO!”

I fling open the doors to the boutique and survey the area. Ponies of all race and size run through the streets in panic. Behind them, troops, human troops in legion armor rush down the streets looting and killing anything in their way. Some ponies are even participating and killing their own kind. Blood soaks the soldier’s swords and shields as they storm the streets. A blood covered lieutenant marches towards me from the other side of the street.

“Centurion! What are you doing? We have a town to burn.” he says to me as he gets closer. “And where did you-” something in his mind clicked at that moment.

He raised his gladius ready to strike me down. I nearly put my left arm out to block the overhead swing but I remember I don’t have a shield. I instead duck down and slide in behind him. I grab his sword arm with all my might and force his blade to his neck. Without hesitation, I tear his own sword into his throat and watch the blood spill from the wound. I still clutch the gladius in my hand as I stand over his body.

I can hear war drums beat in my head. Their fast beat mimics the march of thousands of troops. I kneel over the soldiers body, sheathing the dagger I bring my left hand to my head. The beat begins to match my heartbeat as anger set in. It’s a feeling I’ve tried so hard to leave behind on the battle field. It’s the reason I prefer using a bow rather than a sword. My brothers called it a gift. I called it a curse.

I feel a presence nearby, one that wasn’t friendly. Mars shouted in my head “Kill them all!”

My eyes shoot open and I swing the gladius through the air like it was a twig. I get a momentary glimpse of a centurion the tip of my blade cut through his unarmored neck. His crimson essence coats my blade and splattered across my armor. The silver eagle now painted red on my chest. I grab his shield as he clutches his throat trying to stop the blood before it his life source left his body. With my new weapons in hand, I charge into the fray and find the first hostile person or pony I can.

The soldier only got a seconds glance before I was on top of him. He tried to block my strike but my blade passed behind his shield and into his left arm. I wheel around and drag my blade through his neck, nearly taking if off of his shoulders. Another soldier catches my eye. She stood over a quivering, mint green unicorn with her blade over her head. I spring through the chaos and slam my shield into her right side. She topples over and I feel another soldier coming from behind me. I swipe my shield around behind me and feel it slam into the soldier’s body. This one had no shield.

I raise my gladius and cleave off his sword arm. The female soldier tried to get up and attack me but I brought my blade through her leg. As the other soldier stumbled back I tore my blade through his throat. The female howled in pain for a moment before passing out and dying. The green unicorn got up and ran as all troops in the area started to converge on me.

A regular pony jumps at me with a gladius in its teeth. I ram him with my shield and thrust my sword through his chest. The sword falls from its mouth as it shouts in agony. It hit’s the ground and writhes in pain before I bring the edge of my shield down onto it head. Its body jolts as a satisfying crunch emanates from my fallen opponent.

The rest is a red blur. My shield caves in skulls as my blade takes them from their shoulders. I shout in rage and laugh like a mad man as years of pent up power surge through me. Ares would have been proud and Mars would have frowned upon being this barbaric, but I couldn’t stop. Blood spilled in the streets and bodies lined the sidewalks as more soldiers fell at my feet. It only takes minutes for someone to shout for retreat, but the troops in front of me were unable to pass me to follow the rest of their comrades. I slash through as many as I can. The last one I deny passage ends up plastered against my shield. I slam him into the nearest wall. His helm falls from his head as he slams into he brick work. I drop the sword I picked up earlier and drawl my dagger. I press the golden blade to his neck. On the fuller I could see the engravings in black.
S.P.Q.R. Cavete (Beware) Nemesis

The Dagger of Nemesis. A blade created by the Goddess of Vengeance, Nemesis. A weapon that would kill all monsters of the darkest realms of Tartarus. It’s the only imperial gold weapon that can kill a mortal, so long as they are traitorous at heart. I had picked it up in one of Nemesis’ temples in Italy. It was ledged the dagger only came to the new spirit of vengeance, chosen by the Goddess herself. But those who posses it don’t live long. Once your path of vengeance ends, you die. It was the ultimate interrogation tool. I put all of my anger and rage back for a few seconds and let the analytical side of Mars’ gift take hold.

“What is your name Legionary?” the frightened man shook in his boots as I held him against he wall. “What-is-your-name!?”

“M-Marcus Stulte, Son of Mercury!” he shouted in fear.

“Who sent you here? Who is your Praetor?” I pushed the dagger against his jugular harder.

“Cipherus Miles! It was Cipherus!”

My heart stops when I hear his name. “Where is he?” I ask.

“I don’t know! He said he would change locations if the attack failed. He said to follow the Centurions if we had to sound retreat. I swear I don’t know anymore!”

I cringe hearing him say he couldn’t tell me. Regardless, it was time I got my point across. “Do you know who I am Legionary?”

“Yes sir. General Jackson Leonidas Anderson.”

I push the blade as hard as I can through his throat. Not a drop of blood comes from his neck. He inhales gallons of air as the blade passed through him. I pull the shield away from him and watch his legs give out from beneath him.

“I want you to fine where Cipherus is and deliver this message. By the River Styx, I will end his life. Whether the Gods can hear me or not, I will kill him. Now be gone.”

Marcus nodded and stumbled in the direction his comrades had gone. I reach up and feel my face and notice the bandages are gone. No pain came with my touch. Why did children or Mars have to heal faster in the heat of battle? True it had saved my life on a quest in Oregon, but it made me feel like I was invincible. That was a feeling that could get a man killed instantly. I drag the shield behind me and sheath my dagger. I step past bodies as ponies start emerging from their homes and watch as I walk away from the battlefield covered in blood. It only took minutes, for what I assume is all that’s left of the Ponyville police force to arrest me and take me back to jail. I don’t resist as they toss me back into my old cell.

Author's Note

Nexus: This is still bad and still makes me not like Rarity.
Me: Oh get over it. It's not like it's you having to deal with her for long.
Nexus: It doesn't matter. She's still a c-
Me: Keep it somewhat PG here Nex.