The Sentinel of Equestria

As promised, Righty and Lefty came back around fifteen minutes later to retrieve me. Though I don’t have a watch, I have enough skills to tell the time by the shadows cast by the sun depending on the seasons. Summer and winter are always harder for me to tell but that’s beside the plot now isn’t it?

The white unicorns leave the wall open behind us as they lead me in chains to down a long hall lit by torches. I carefully count my steps in case I need to make an escape later. Around three hundred and fifty steps. Far enough that the torch lights would fade, but short enough for a good sprint past anything coming at me. At the end of the hall we reached a tall, stone spiral staircase. One of them prods me in the side with their hoof as they lead me up the stairs. It took around a thousand steps to reach the top. I was breathing a heavier when we reached the top while Righty and Lefty kept a straight face.

“You guys tired yet? I just want to get this triathlon over with already. How far until the lake we have to swim across?”

“Quite! Keep moving. The Princess’ are waiting for you.” Lefty told me.

I shrug and allow them to lead me down another dark hall that eventually led into a massive corridor. Several stained glass windows formed mosaics of what I assumed were big historical events. I glance at each one as I pass: One showed a white and dark blue alicorn circling around what looked like Discord on either side of a day and night cycle. Another showed a different dark blue alicorn rearing up inside a purple orb being created by six ponies of different colors bellow her.

The windows from there on had the six ponies in them. The six were around Discord but this time he was all gray, as though he was turned to stone. I don’t understand half of what’s being shown in the windows but we eventually come to a window that shows something plain and simple, a purple alicorn with a dark purple mane and a single pink streak in it, wearing a crown holding a pink star shaped gem. Twilight had a window? Come to think of it, there was a purple unicorn in all of the windows with a pink streak in its mane.

Righty and Lefty shoved me again. I hadn’t realized I had slowed down. Ahead of us was a large double door. The left door had a crescent moon carved into it and the right the burning sun. The doors glow light yellow and start to open. Without breaking stride, Righty and Lefty lead me into a massive room. The ceiling was four stories high and around fifty yards long. The walls were lined with tapestries depicting an emblem with a crescent moon beneath a blazing sun. The blue and white alicorns circled the sun and the moon; the white on the right and the blue on the left. Several multicolored windows reached to the sealing of the pinkish purple room and a red carpet ran its length.

“Eyes forward creature and bow to the princess’ of Equestria.” either lefty or Righty told me elbowing me. Or is it knees? I don’t care at this point.

I look forward and see four alicorns, including Twilight standing atop a platform with a golden throne that reached up the ceiling as well. Sitting upon the throne was what looked like the white alicorn. Only instead of the pink mane shown in the windows or the flag, it flowed in an invisible wind with several faded colors all striped through it. The dark blue one stood to the right with Twilight, only the light blue mane was a flowing aura of midnight blue and stars. And on the white one’s right was a pink alicorn I didn’t see in the windows.

She was hardly taller then Twilight, considering the white one was the tallest but that could have been the throne, with a long multicolored mane. What struck me as odd was that the tip of her wings were light purple rather then the solid color like what I presume are her sisters. Not wanting to be blasted to oblivion, I kneel and do my best to cross my right arm over my heart in salute.

“Rise.” The white one called to me. Her voice was strong but still effeminate. It commanded respect. Like Anna’s…

I push the thought aside and stand my expression I hope is unwavering.

“I am Princess Celestia, ruler of Equestria.” she told me.

“Hello, Princess.” I look to the rest of them but hear none of them speak. “Do the rest of you have names or am I just here to guess?”

“How dare you speak out of turn!” Righty shouted at me.

“As you were Phalanx. He may speak as needed. But I do ask that he be more polite.”

“My apologies Princess. What for art thy sisters’ names?” ‘Why did I just say that?’

“Silence!” Phalanx shouted at me once more.

“Phalanx. Still thy tongue.” the blue one said.

“So they do talk.”

“I am Princess Luna. Princess of the Night. Thou shall respect us.” the blue one announced to me.

“And that is all you shall need to know. You have already met Princess Twilight. Now what is your name?” the pink on said.

“What no introduction from the second youngest?”

She sighed. “I am Princess Cadence. Queen of the Crystal Empire.”

“And that makes sense how?”

“Enough of these sarcastic remarks.” Celestia cut in. “You know our names, what is yours?”

“My name is Jackson Leonidas Anderson, Son of Mars, Praetor of New Rome, and General of the Thirty First Legion . And I also know my way around a stove top when necessary.”

“Their General?”

“No. They are not apart of the Thirty First. They are outcasts that joined a corrupt former Praetor, Cipherus, Son of Mars. Though he would proclaim to you that he’s the Son of Rome.”

“Why are we to believe you?”

“I killed many today in the defense of Princess Sparkle. How is that not a free pass to trust in this universe?”

“You are wrong. We take these type of threats very seriously. Do you not see the severity of this situation Anderson?”

“I see the futileness of fighting it and I’m sure Princess Sparkle told you of the battle.”

Twilight hesitated seeming to be afraid to speak out of turn. She needs to grow a pair. “I-I did tell her what I saw.”

“Do I have the right to hear that?”

“Go ahead Twilight.” Celestia told her.

Twilight took a deep breath and began. “We were in Rarity’s boutique getting one of my dresses back when a sound caused Jack to stand up and look out the window. He said it was a war march and that I had to go upstairs with Rarity. When I got up there I heard screaming, shouting and… laughing. When I looked out I saw Jack in the middle of more creatures like him. They all came after him like they knew he was more dangerous then anything in Ponyville. He was… glowing red. I could feel the magic from the window.”

“What was he doing, Twilight?”

“He was killing them. The creatures and other ponies that came after him. He was laughing. It scared me. Then they started to retreat. I don’t know why but-”

“I don’t know why either. Either someone saw the carnage and ordered it or some God got lazy in writing my story.”

“Do not interrupt General Anderson.” Celestia said coldly. “You are but one step from death for your crimes.”

“What crimes? Defending the Princess like she told me to? True, I hate the job. Shit benefits, crappy hours and no pay. You think I did that for my sake, I fought for her sake. Okay when I was glowing red, I was fighting for my sake, but I wasn’t in control of myself. It’s a curse.”

“What is?”

“The gift of Mars.”

“Whom is this Mars?” Luna asked her brow still knit trying to figure me out.

“Mars is the God of War and Strategy where I’m from.”

“So thou is the child of a war deity? Why should my sister and I believe thee?”

“Because I didn’t kill anything that didn’t attack me or something innocent first. Like Twilight said, everyone that came at me with sword raised I killed. The rest I let run for their lives.”

“And that’s better how?” Cadence asked.

“It means I have some control.” I lie. “I can keep myself from killing anything that isn’t a threat. Plus you need me.”

“And why do we need you General?” Celestia asked.

“Because you don’t know this enemy. I’m guessing you’ve fought everything here that needs fighting?”

“Without fail.”

“But you’re dealing with Romans. We don’t just charge in. We plan and we execute that plan with precision.”

“And if you fail?”

“If we die then we go to Elysium. We believe that we were born to die, but not before the one trying to kill us.”

“Then are we your enemy?” Luna asked.

“Only if you yourself raise a sword to my throat. Look, I know their leader. He’s ruthless and uncaring for others. I want him dead as much as you.”

“Go on.”

‘Just like the Gods back home. Nothing if not reasonable.’ “You want this force taken down? I can do it. True they won’t let me in, but I can help you beat them.”

“And you want to help us why?” Cadence asked.

“I lead the Legion to what I thought was my last breath. Even then New Rome nearly burnt to the ground at Cipherus’ hand. He summoned creatures of Tartarus to help him. He’s not afraid to do it again. I have a weapon that can kill anything from Tartarus.”

“Your dagger?” Celestia asked.

“Yes. The Dagger of Nemesis.”

“I could feel a faint magical field around it when it was brought to me. It only kills creatures of Tartarus?”

“And those black of heart. Let me put it through Cipherus’ and then you may do to me as you wish. I swear on the River Styx that I will end his life or die trying.”

“And we should believe you why?”

“Because when a Roman promises on the Styx, we are honor bound to keep it. Unlike my half brother, I have my honor if nothing else.”

“Is thou never fearful that the promise cannot be kept?” Luna interjected.

“I fear death. And that is apart of my promise. Please, take my word. I will either come back and die, or die in battle. Either way you’re rid of me.”

Celestia looked to her council wearily. Cadence was the first to nod to her and Luna followed suit shortly after. Twilight looked me in the eyes and I nodded to her. I wasn’t sure if that was good or not, but I meant it as more of a follow your gut nod rather then a whatever you’re thinking I’m down with kind of nod. She finally spoke up rather then nod.

“I propose he lead a platoon of our finest troops and prove his word. No one can fight an army on their own, not even you General.” she looked to Celestia and she nodded to Twilight.

“It is decided. Once this threat is dealt with, you will be judged for your actions. I will have a platoon sent to Ponyville behind you and Princess Twilight. You will lead them as you led your troops in your world. Be warned, I see more then these walls. If you falter in your word, you will be persecuted on the spot. Do you accept these responsibilities General? Do you swear your allegiance to Equestria?” Celestia spread her wings for some reason as she stood.

Celestia’s horn glows a light yellow and the shackles around my wrists fall to the stone floors. I look up and I cross my right arm over my chest in salute. “I swear on The River Styx that I will fight for Equestria and her people as I fought for Rome.”

“Then it’s final. Princess Twilight, return home with General Anderson.”

“I will require a few things.”

“And they are?”

“I need access to a forge and ten pounds of iron. I’ll also need few sheets of lumber, a six foot long wooden pole about an inch around and the strongest kind of cloth you have. Hide of some animal if you can manage it. I need an a few things before I go back out onto that battlefield.”

“And you will get them. Phalanx?”

“Yes your majesty?” Phalanx said standing straighter then usual.

“Get General Anderson his provisions and ensure they reach him before sun set.”

“As you wish Princess Celestia.”

“And tell your platoon they are to move to Ponyville. Don’t let us down General.”

“I won't.” I promise bowing out of some kind of respect. Twilight steps down from the throne’s alter and walks up to me. “Lead the way Your Highness.” I say respectfully. Twilight steps past me and I follow her out. “I told you I could handle myself didn’t I?”

“You said you’d take your chances.”

“And it worked. I can do something right, and then die knowing that bastard was cut to ribbons by my hand.”

Twilight sighed in annoyance. “Let’s just get back home and hope they didn’t raid the Library.”