The cell was as cozy as I remembered. I sat in the front corner, leaning on the bars. I hadn’t been there for more than ten minutes before I fell asleep. For most this would be a gift from Jupiter; but for a demigod it was no relief. Our dreams were almost never dreams. They were always nightmares. Lucid dreaming helps some, but when the Gods want to get a message across, there’s no way around it.

I’m forced to look upon my city in ruins. New Rome was in shambles as troops of the first cohort arrived without Anna. Some troops that had been in front of the senate building were still there looking at the emptiness that was now New Rome. Some people began emerging from the burning rubble, trying to pull their loved ones out of broken homes and businesses.

“This pains me.” A deep ragged voice says to next to me.

I look to my right to see a very tall man in black centurion armor. His cape seemed to be made of blood soaked fabric and his presence alone made my blood boil. It couldn’t have been anyone else.

“Hello father.” I say blankly.

“She had such promise.”

“She still does. People lived and they can rebuild.”

“It doesn’t matter to you anymore Jackson. There is no way you can return.”

“Are you sure?” I ask getting a little antsy. “You are talking to me right now. Isn’t there a way you can drag me through some kind of dimensional portal or something?”

“Sorry son. But I can’t. Only your blood connection to me allows the other Olympians to observe you. We cannot offer guidance in the world you are in.”

“Why not!?” I shout facing my Godly parent. “You’re a God! How can you not have the power to-”

“You are not in our existence! And do not raise your voice to me you impotent worm! I am not only your father but I am God of War! You have been a disgrase to my name in the past. What son of Mars uses a bow anyway?”

“The kind that would love to put an arrow in your eye.”

“We’re done here. There is nothing I can do for you.”

“Then why are you here!? Why are you even checking up on me!?”

“Because you may not have been my favorite son, but you were the best Praetor New Rome has had. Even the daughter of Venus was good at what she did. All I can say is this, keeping your gift held up inside can only lead to your own self destruction.” He paused for a moment and looked around as though he heard someone eavesdropping. It would appear you have a visitor. Good bye Jackson.”

I suddenly jolt from my sleep and look around my cell. No one. There was only a very odd looking mouse sitting in front of me.

“This is the visitor Mars woke me up for?”

“Oh now that’s just plain rude.” The mouse said.

Given that’s not the strangest thing that has ever happened to me, but it was a close second to what came next. The mouse disappeared in a flash of light. What was in its place when the light faded was a mystery to me. The creature in front of me had the body of a serpent, the wings of a bat and pegasus, the head of a dragon, the horns of an elk and ram, the arms of a lion and chicken and the legs of a lizard and goat.

“As if my day couldn’t get any stranger.” I say.

“Oh, Rarity was right about you. You’re not very polite.”

“Who are you anyways?”

“Oh how incredibly rude of me.” He suddenly flashed out of existence and appeared on my left shoulder much smaller than he had been before. “I’m Discord, Lord of Chaos.”

“That explains the Frankenstein thing you got going on there.”

“What this old thing?” he said pulling his eyes and mouth off of himself and then looking himself over. “I think I look rather slim. Don’t you agree?”

“What do you want?”

He flashed away and then reappeared on the window. “What? Can’t the deity of chaos not come and visit the strangest creature in all of Equestria just to say hello?”

“Where I come from-”

“A visit from a God is a bad omen. Well you’re not home now are you?” he snapped his fingers and brought a purple S.P.Q.R. banner in his lion’s hand. Or paw. Oh forget it.

“It doesn’t matter. Gods always want something.”

“Well if you must know.” He disappeared and then reappeared in front of me at normal size dressed in a toga with a lyre. “I’m here to help you young Roman.”

“And you have to be dressed like Apollo to do it?”

“Fine.” The toga and lyre vanished and he leaned against the back wall. “I don’t normally do this kind of thing. If something comes up then I just have to snap my fingers to fix it. Since my reformation, I just doo the basic cleanup of disasters that come along. But only if they are magical. Things like what you did are in mortal hands. And I must say-” Discord summoned a small gallery of the battle I was just in. Only the images moved. “You are an artist when it comes to killing. Have you ever considered selling your work?”

“Get to the point.”

“Suit yourself.” The moving pictures vanished. “I’m here to deliver a message. A prophecy of you will.”

“Can’t wait.” I say sarcastically.

“Three Praetors walk the land. One atop a pillar of sand,” sand rose from the stone floor where he stood and raised him up an inch or two. “One in chains,” a set of chains appeared around my wrists and feet. “And the other in pain. In the Forest of Everfree, will these three meet their destiny.” All of the objects he summoned vanished as he continued on after appearing in my right ear. “Two shall bathe in fire. One shall parish by the others hand for their selfish desire.” He goes into my ear and reappears in front of me with my dagger. “Though Nemesis’ curse can end your life, it will only be so by her knife.”

“What does that supposed to mean?”

“I don’t know. That’s for you to find out. Ta ta!” he vanished in a flash and left me alone in my cell with my dagger.

I stand and lean my back on the wall. My head throbs as I try to keep myself from thinking about it too much. Prophesies were always a pain in the ass. I hear the guards coming towards me. They round the corner and I am surprised to see two white unicorns in golden armor. I guess they have a military.

“To the back of the cell.” the one on the right commanded.

“Wait, where did he get his dagger from?” his comrade asked.

I walk over to it and slide the imperial gold blade under the food slot at the bottom of the bared wall. “Problem solved. Would you like me to wear shackles as well?” I ask with a sarcastic tone.

The one on the right answers by sliding a set of iron shackles through the same slot as my dagger while the one on the left pick up the dagger in with a levitation spell. I don’t argue as I clamp the shackles on my wrists. The one with my dagger opens the door and leads me out.

“So may I ask where we’re going?” I ask.

“To Canterlot for your trial by Princess Celestia.” Righty told me.

“A Princess of the Heavens? This should be nothing but fun.”

Author's Note

Nexus: Well here's a twist.
Me: Well things come to me when I'm on the brink of sleep. Also, I will be recording me noming on my hat within the week and posting it with my MLP season 4 review. So don't be as disappointed with that as you are with this.
Nexus: You can say that again.