Fall of a Legion

by mareutails

Rating: mature
Tags: Romance, Princess Luna, Adventure, Crossover, Discord, Gore, Princess Celestia, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Dark, Alternate Universe, Human, Main 6
Length: 11290

I fought for my safety, for vengeance against Caesar's Legion, and for hope in Equestria.

My name is Lucius Junius Brutus, and I guess this is my story. The Princess asked me to write a journal, to keep a record of my experiences here, and to give people an idea of what my past was like. Evidently she didn’t know about the one I wrote in the Mojave, so this will just add on to that, so you’ll get the whole story. So here it goes. I was born eighteen years ago, to a Frumentarii, which is an espionage-military officer, from a slaver nation known as 'Caesar's Legion'

Published 2014-01-06 01:10:10 UTC
Last updated 2014-12-28 06:56:19 UTC

Chapter 1

My name is Lucius Junius Brutus, and I guess this is my story. Princess Luna asked me to write a journal, to keep a record of my experiences here, and to give people an idea of what my past was like. Evidently she didn’t know about the one I wrote in the Mojave, so this will just add on to that, and make some notes in the first part, so you’ll get the whole story. So here it goes. I was born eighteen years ago, to a Frumentarii, which is an espionage-military officer, from a slaver nation known as 'Caesar's Legion'...

My father was one of Caesar's elite Frumentarii. Was. After the Second Battle of Hoover Dam, he left. Mind you that this is no easy feet, as Caesar doesn't exactly like loose ends, which is pretty much the reason I'm here now. You see, the battle took place a year before I was born, but there are enough stories to piece together for me to give you a pretty good idea of what happened. You see, initially, one man formerly called The Courier, tasked himself with protecting New Vegas from the clutches of evil... Though I guess somewhere along the way, what he viewed as good, or as evil changed. The Courier was a brilliant man, but a horrible speaker. He wanted to unite the factions of the Mojave against outside threat, but they wouldn't listen. Angered, he went to the one person, who would accept anyone truly willing to join his cause. Caesar, the founder of Caesar's Legion. They agreed, that if the citizens of the Mojave would not protect themselves, they would need to be protected. Even if it meant slavery, and total oppression. So the day came, and the Legion gathered to the east of Hoover Dam, and the New California Republic Army gathered to the west. By the time the fighting began, my father already knew the outcome, so he deserted. It wasn't hard to do in all of the chaos. He watched the battle from the northern hills, he watched the NCR decimate legion squad after legion squad. He watched the legion brutally hack apart trooper after trooper.

By the end, the Courier had had enough, he killed the leader of the Legion's fighting force, Legate Lanius, and took his place. He ordered all forces to retreat across the Colorado river, leaving mines throughout the valley they were camped in. Once the fighting was over, the Courier was officially named the new Legate, and was given a new name. Romulus. While in the NCR, the general leading the army, General Oliver, was punished for incompetence, and was henceforth known, as failure.

My father wandered the Mojave for two months before the Legion figured out he was missing, and in those two months, he wandered the path the Legion took along their retreat, of course one night he accidentally caught up to the group, this turned out to be a blessing though, because he saw someone there, a woman Legion had taken as a slave along the way, my mother, Sunny Smiles. She was in the east, on a trip to some godforsaken settlement that Goodsprings wanted to trade with, while she was there the Legion raided it, for supplies, women, children. Men were butchered, young boys taken to be trained as legionaries, the young girls, taught how to be servants. The women were beaten into submission, but apparently my mother is a former gecko hunter, so she didn't submit without a fight. According to him, the moment he saw her, he decided to sneak in and set her free, but she wouldn't leave so long as the rest of the people were still forced into servitude. So they made a plan, my father distracted the legion party, and my mother freed the people and sent them west, towards Goodsprings, sadly the captives were all eaten by Death Claws, and Cazadores the next day, but hey, they tried. So just like that, they realized that my father's courage, and cunning was a perfect compliment to my mother's tenacity and selflessness. They stayed together for seventeen years, fighting the Legion, and giving birth to a single baby boy, who they named, Lucius Junius Brutus until the Legate, personally, caught up with us. You see, like I said, Caesar didn't like loose ends, so he sent the one man he could trust to kill us all. Romulus. The Butcher of Kings. they called him. My father fought him, to the last breath. His very last breath. I was kneeling at his bloodied body, when Romulus walked up to me, he told me to rise, so I did, and he gave me an ultimatum, "Join, or die." That's what he said, he told me he'd return for my answer, and left, it was his mistake. My father opened his eyes one last time, to tell my mother and I what was probably the most important piece of information we'd ever received, he had a brother, in the NCR, Kimball's successor as President, Michael Stanfill, former NCR Veteran Ranger, and the only reason the NCR Army wasn't totally annihilated at Hoover Dam. After burying my father, my mom and I traveled west, to find my uncle. Father told us everything we'd need to know in order to get to him. It was through him I met Celeste, and Layla Tiance, the latter of which, I became, and currently am shall we say... Romantically involved with.

    “Hey, lady! I don’t care if you claim you’re the President’s golden fuckin’ whore. You ain’t getting in!” An angry guard yelled at my mother.

    “Mom, I told you, let me handle this.” I had told her that she would over react to Californian assholism. “My name is Lucius Junius Brutus, and ‘to be prepared for war, is one of the most effective ways of preserving peace.’”

    “O-oh, I’m sorry sir. You and your mother may enter.” The guard stepped aside.

    “Lucius, what was that?”

    “That, mom, was dad’s handiwork. He told me everything I needed to know to get us in here, tha-”

    “Stop right there.” An NCR Ranger stopped us in our tracks. “I’m under the president’s orders to escort you to him.”

    “Oh, thank you sir.” I always acted polite to the rangers, they weren’t bad men, even back then when I held no true love for the NCR, these were brave men and women, truly willing to sacrifice everything for the good of the republic. “But why?”

    “Apparently he knows you, and he wanted me to bring you through a detour so he’d have time to bring in his most trusted officers to screen you, make sure you’re telling the truth.” Why he was so willing to admit that he had tricked us, I’ll never know. “Anyway, here’s his office.” *knock-knock-knock* The ranger knocked on the door.

    “Get your asses in here!” Yelled a voice from inside.

    “Yes, sir!” The ranger replied opening the door, and ushering us in. That was when I saw them, Celeste ‘Celly’ Tiance, the beautiful death of the waste, and her younger sister Layla Tiance, the moonlit prophet. Both sitting in front of the desk of President Michael Stanfill.

    “Thank you, Curtis.” Michael said. “You are dismissed.”

    “Yes, sir. I’m gonna go patrol the Mojave, maybe wish for a nuclear winter.”

    “Smart ass.” Layla mumbled, I chuckled a little, I never had seen anyone I found quite so beautiful, I’ve had my share of ladies in Freeside, but my father always chastised me about that. Some things you learn in the Legion, you never let go of I suppose. “What the hell are you looking at jackass?” Of course for a sixteen year old she had quite the mouth on her, not that I particularly minded after later experiences, but Princess Luna asked me to keep this semi-appropriate for all audiences. “Well?”

    “Well, ma’am. I was simply taken aback.”

    “By what?” Layla asked.

    “By your beauty.” Celeste gasped, and Layla blushed at the comment, I could sense Celeste’s angry irises penetrating my soul, and she felt that my soul was about was cold and hard, as Santa Claus’s junk when he sees the latest issue of Sports Illustrated: Winter Wear Addition. Of course, it warmed just a little upon seeing miss Layla.

    “D-don’t be stupid. We’re here to see who you really are.” Layla said, flustered.

    “Yes.” Celeste agreed. “Your words seem to claim you’re the president’s nephew, but how do we know you aren’t a Legion assassin?”

    “If I was, I would have killed you all by now, or you would have killed me with that .22 you’re all hiding, or that Sequoia you have in your shirt, Mr. President, or should I say, Uncle Michael?”

    “I knew it.” Michael laughed. “I knew your father wouldn’t let me down. So where is he?” He asked, looking to me, then to my mother.

    “...” Our silence said enough.

    “Oh god, I’m so sorry. What happened? ‘When’ did it happen?”

    “A few months ago, The Courier, Romulus, whatever you want to call the asshole. He hunted down my father, and killed him in front of us. Then he gave me a choice.”

    “Which was?” Celeste asked.

    “Join the Legion, or die.”

    “Dammit, DAMMIT!” He screamed, and slammed a fist on his desk, snapping Celeste and myself to attention, and making Layla jump, my mother seemed, distant, ever since he asked about dad. “Oh god, Augustus, dammit.”

    “To be honest, I’m surprised you care, he ‘was’ Legion.” I said.

    “It doesn’t matter, he was my brother, and I loved him, god I remember the day the Legion came to our tribe.”

    “Tribe? You were a tribal?” I asked, confused.

    “Yeah, your father and I. We’re descended from the original inhabitants of the desert, the Navajo, that’s where you get your looks.” He was referring to my dark skin, and hair, I was clearly cut from a different cloth than most people in the Mojave. “Fortunately you didn’t inherit your father’s ugly ass face.” He joked.

    “You seemed to get over his death fast.” I remarked.

    “No, but I’ll live. Besides, we need to talk about you.”

    “What about ‘me’?”

    “Where will you be staying while in California?”

    “I have a camp set up, outside town.”

    “No, no, that won’t do. You’re staying in the Presidential Mansion, with us.” He motioned at himself, Celeste, and Layla. The latter of which was still blushing, while avoiding eye contact with me.

    “They live with you?”

    “Yes, Celeste here, is my most trusted General, so I like to keep her close” Especially after what happened with Oliver. “And her sister, Layla, is the NCR’s most promising intelligence officer.”

    “I’ve heard of you.” I said, getting Layla’s attention. “The most eloquent and beautiful, ‘Moonlit Prophet’.” I said with a mock bow, and I quick wink at the end. She was so red I was surprised that steam wasn’t coming out of her ears. “And, thank you, Uncle, but I don’t intend to stay in the NCR.” To my amusement, this shocked Layla

    “What! Why?” She asked, seeming almost disappointed that I wasn’t staying.

    “Because I’m going after him. Romulus. That is, I intend to kill him.”

    “That’s a stupid idea and you know it.” Layla said. “He’s been everywhere from Big MT to the Divide, and survived! What the hell makes you think you have a chance?”

    “Because I have someone to avenge, and a life worth restoring.” I said, motioning behind, she glanced towards my mother, sitting on a couch, near catatonic. “She hasn’t been the same since my father was killed, every time someone mentions my father, she gets like this. I’m not sure if she’ll ever be the same, but I have to try something. That bastard took away my father, the man she loved.”

    “Of course, I understand, but I can’t let you leave yet.” Michael told me.

    “Why not?”

    “Because Layla is right, you’ll surely die... So you’ll be trained.”

    “My father trained me.”

    “He trained you like a legionnaire. The same way that Romulus fights. No, you’ll be trained like a ranger, ‘and’ a Veteran Ranger squad will accompany you, help you make sure that ‘his’ head comes back here on a platter, not ‘yours’ on a pike.

    “... Alright. Thank you.”

    That night, I did something so incredibly stupid, that I regretted it immediately. I went to visit Layla. "I can't believe I'm doing this." I was about to knock, when suddenly the door opened.

    "Hey, you. In here. Now." Layla commanded.

    "Yes, ma'am." I walked into the room, only to be hand, and footcuffed to a chair. "Well I'm not usually the one wearing the cuffs, but alright."

    "Shut your mouth. You can speak, when I give you permission to speak... So, speak."

    "About what?"

    "What the hell are you doing here, in my room?"

    "I don't know, actually. I just wanted to see you."

    "So you could screw me, you womanizing asshole?"

    "I swear to god, it was ONE time in Freeside, and my father beat me for it! I swore I'd never do it again."

    "I know." She said, as she turned to lean out an open window.

    "What?"

    "I just wanted to see if you’d be honest."

    "Of course I would, why wouldn't I be? I've got nothing to hide."

    "I know. In fact, I know quite a bit about you, like how you have an astounding lockpicking skill, and how within moments of my locking those cuffs, they were already useless."

    "Well technically they were useless before you put them on, if you knew I'd just get out of them."

    "... Don't start with me, I have a reasonably decent opinion of you."

    "Alright, so..."

    "So... What?"

    I looked around her room for something to talk about, when I noticed a shelf of perfectly preserved books from before the Great War. One in particular caught my eye. She caught me looking and started talking before I had a chance.

    “So tell me.” She said.

    “Hmm?”

    “What’s in a name?”

    “Nothing, truly.” I quickly realized what she was doing, and decided to play her little game. “That which we call rose, by any other name, would smell as sweet.”

    She giggled just a little, and my heart warmed. “How do you know Shakespeare?”

    “I’ve traveled a bit more than your records may tell you. When I was eleven, I stumbled into the old Mormon fort, and one of the Followers of the Apocalypse, Arcade Gannon, sat me down, and taught me how to read while my parents looked for me. Last I heard he was still in Freeside, helping the people as best he could, while avoiding human contact that is.”

    “Avoiding human contact?”

    “He’s not good with people. That’s why he stays in the back and researches.”

    “What does he research?”

    “Ways to recreate pre-war medicine, I’m not sure if you’ve ever been to Vegas, but that’s something they could use.”

    “Quite honorable... where else have you been?”

    “Hmph. You asked for it.” That went on all night, until early into the morning, I told Layla of my experiences, and her reactions made it obvious that she’d never left California City. For some reason, I didn’t mind letting her live vicariously through me, but when I vowed to myself, that when I returned from hunting Romulus, I would take her, and show her the world.

    I returned to my room for the... morning... after finishing my conversation with Layla. Of course, it had to happen eventually, Ranger training. Michael’s best and brightest, Curtis & Elijah, woke me up from my three hours of sleep, telling me to report to the army training center. They gave me a t-shirt, and track pants, and told me to move my ass or I don’t get breakfast. SO I trudged, quickly, I might add, and learned something almost immediately. Apparently the food my parents had given me for seventeen years, was utter. Fucking. Shit. I tell you, the ‘crappy rations that nobody wants’ I got training was better than anything I’d ever eaten up to that point. Happy morning time didn’t last though, and I had to start actual physical exercise, which wouldn’t have been hard if they didn’t include dragging whole Deathclaw corpses up a fucking mountain, while wearing iron ankle bracelets to weigh me down while I was trying to go up hill as a necessary skill. When would a ranger ‘EVER’ need to do that, I swear to god the were just fucking with me because they’re assholes. Either way, I endured the pain until the end of the day, when they finally let me stop running up and down the mountain, and brought me back into the City. Little did I know, that Michael and his posse were observing the whole time.

    “That boy sure is something, huh Celly?” Michael asked.

    “Yeah, he sure is. Also, I never thought those that two would find a use for those Deathclaw carcasses, or those iron shackles for that matter.”

    “I don’t know, it seems a little... Excessive? Would that be it? Yeah, definitely excessive.” Layla remarked.

    “Yeah.” Michael began. “It’s ranger training, so it’s the hardest thing most people could ever experience. There ‘is’ a reason that 80% of people don’t pass it.”

    “So that really is true?” Layla aksed.

    “Well, yes and no. It’s actually closer to 85% don’t pass, and 5% of people who try, die because they can’t physically stand the training.”

    “And you still let him do it!?” Layla yelled, shocked.

    “Of course. He’s my nephew, and my brother’s son. I know he’ll make it. And I told you yesterday, he’s been trained like a legionnaire, he’s been beaten down, and molded into a fighter, from birth. My brother may have been legion, but he had some morals.”

    “I still don’t like it... I... I’m going home for now.”

    “Sis, wait.” Celeste said. “Why?”

    “I dunno, I’m just getting a little tired. From watching that moron run all day.”

    “Yeah, he’s stupid alright.” Celeste agreed, looking back towards the training ground.

    “Yeah... See you at home....”

    “Oh come one man. It wasn’t ‘that’ bad.” Elijah said when we got back to the mansion.

    “I hate you.”

    “Don’t hate Elijah, dude.” Curtis said.

    “I hate you too.”

    “Come on we’re awesome.”

    “I hate both of you.”

    “Hey look.” Elijah tapped me on the shoulder to get my attention. “It’s Layla.”

    “I hate them.” I said to Layla, as we walked nearer to her. She said, nothing, just closed her eyes, put her chin up, and kept walking.

    “What did you do to piss her off?” Curtis asked.

    “... I still fucking hate you.”

Things continued like that for a week, Curtis & Elijah would take me for training, then we would walk back, and we’d see Layla, but she’d ignore me completely. Of course, like the idiot I am, a week later I decided to pay her a visit, and apparently she has security cameras because once again, I didn’t get a chance to knock.

“You. Inside. Now.”

“Yes ma’am.” I obeyed, I learned to not piss off women more than they already were at a very, young, age. “Look, Layla if I did so-”

“No. Shirt off. On the bed. Face down. Now.”

    “Why?” I shouldn’t have said that. I should not have said that.

    “Don’t ask why. Just. Do. It.” She said, with a cold dead stare. If I’d ever believed in God, this would have been a good time to pray she didn’t tear my spine out.

    “Alright. I’ll do it.” I did precisely as she said. And as I lay there, waiting to be killed something truly amazing happened. Layla crawled on top of my back, and placed her soft hands on my shoulders. “Whoa, what are you doing?”

    “Giving you a massage.”

    “Why?”

    “Because we’ve been watching your training. Michael tells me that 5% of recruits die because they can’t handle the training, and every day you come back here looking miserable, and in pain. I wanted to make you feel a little better.”

    “Seriously? I haven’t done anything for you.”

    “Yes you have. You gave me someone to talk to. I... Don’t exactly get out much, so I never really meet anyone my own age.”

    “I’ve kind of deduced that. I doubted you’ve ever left California City.”

    “I haven’t my sister and I were born here, but she’s always been overly protective of me, in fact, she specifically told me to keep you away from me when she isn’t around.”

    “Yet you let me in here?”

    “Yep.” She said smugly.

    “Anyway, why have you been avoiding me?”

    “Because I needed time.”

    “Time for what?”

    “Time to learn how to give massages.”

    “... Seriously?”

    “Don’t make fun of me.” She said, I’m sure she was ready to pinch a nerve so I backed off the teasing.

“Thank you, by the way.” Her hands were so soft. It was invigorating feeling them against my rough skin. Such a stark, yet beautiful contrast between the pale peach of her skin, and the light brown of mine. I don’t know how long I waited there, but eventually I couldn’t help myself. I flipped over, with her still on top of me, and moved closer, our faces nearly touching at the nose. I looked into her eyes, and saw something I’d never seen before. Hope. An indomitable spirit. Despite never experiencing the fullness of the world around her, she was willing to. “Layla.”

“Lucius.” Like that, our lips met. Probably not the magical moment that women dream about, but it was close enough. We stayed there like that for awhile, I put my arms around her, and held her tight. By the time we broke the kiss, she was almost tearing up. “Would you... Stay here, with me tonight?”

“Of course. I’d be more than happy to.”

“I’m glad.”

The months passed, and seasons changed.. Well, as much as they can for California weather. Hot, to slightly hotter. But it didn’t matter, I kept training every day, and every night I snuck out to be with Layla, we were happy together, no matter what happened we’d have each other. Which was good, because fate must hate me. As time progressed, my mother got worse, and worse. Becoming more distant even without mentioning my father. Celeste brought in a military psychologist to help her cope, but that would only buy time. She was only getting worse by the time I finished the physical training and moved on to ranger indoctrination. Layla was there to give me a shoulder to cry on. It’s funny actually, I’d always thought that rangers were unable to cry. Guess I was wrong.

Indoc was easy compared to physical training, just learning how to think like a ranger. It wasn’t long until Michael called me to his office with Curtis, and Elijah standing on either side of him.

“Lucius. You may not be a citizen of this Republic, nor do you particularly care for it. But over the last eight months, you were trained to take on a mission, that most no one would be willing to themselves. You have been trained to be the best, by the best. Which is why I’m proud to present you, with your own ranger combat armor, an anti-material rifle, and a .44 magnum. Use them well, and use them proudly.” He finished the speech with a salute, which his lackeys quickly replicated, I gave them one of my own, I’d never felt anyone be more proud of me than these three. If they were this happy, I couldn’t wait to see how Layla felt, but first...

I left the mansion, towards a hospital further in town, where my mother was being cared for. I was wearing my armor except the helmet, so they let me right in. When I saw my mother, it was a sorry sight for sure. Alive, but almost completely unresponsive.

    “Hi, mom. How you doing?”

    “...” Nothing.

    “So, I passed my ranger training, that’s good, right?”

    “...” Pure silence.

    “... Well I’ll probably be heading out of California soon. So I thought I’d say goodbye before I did. I hope you’re better when I get back. I love you mom.” I kissed her on the forehead before I left. The truth is, none of us thought she’d recover, we’d just make her as comfortable as possible before she finally gives up. It hurt seeing her weak like that, she’s half the reason I’m as strong as I am, knowing she’d be gone by the time I get back. It tore me apart.

    I walked back to the mansion, slowly, but sure of what I was going to do. I knew I had to leave nothing undone before I left. Because, I knew I might never come back. Remember when I thought I was stupid for visiting Layla? Yeah, well this time... This time I was visiting her sister. Not my best idea, but oh well. I knocked on the door, and Celeste’s voice told me to come in. She was... Surprised to say the least. She never thought I’d approach her alone. I could have sworn she sat behind that desk for hours just glaring at me.

    “What do you want kid?”

    “I’m here to make sure I don’t have any loose ends if I don’t make it back.”

    “... What are you saying?”

    “I’m saying, I love your sister. And there is nothing you can possibly do to keep me away from her.” No matter how ‘as a matter of factly’ I said it, there was no way to avoid pissing her off, so I decided I’d take the brunt of it now.

    Celeste stood up and walked in front of me she’s older than me by eight years, but we were about the same height, her strength surprised me though, because she lifted me slightly off the ground and slammed me into the wall.

    “You stay away from my sister you worthless little shit! Or I’ll make sure you don’t come back alive.”

    “What makes you think I care. I’m only telling you this because I may not come back anyways, but if I do, you can not stop me from seeing Layla.”

    “DON’T TREAD ON ME, YOU SON OF A BITCH!!!” Don’t tread on me... A few people I know, have this bad habit of using ‘old world’ terms, because they think it’ll help us remember what we’ve lost, but no, it just worsens what we call the ‘Old World Blues’, the feeling that, no matter how clean a slate we have, it always would have been better before the war. They don’t seem to realize that the reason the old world was destroyed is that it was completely fucked, and hated itself.

“Doesn’t matter, I said what I needed to, to you.”

“Don’t go near her, you filthy scum. I don’t care where your allegiance lies, your blood is legion! Nothing can change that. You don’t change.”

“A very wise man, once told a confused one, ‘War, never changes...  But men do, through the roads they walk.’ I’ve walked my road, I don’t want anyone to walk theirs alone.” I walked away, as she stood there, half fuming, half trembling. Apparently she wasn’t used to being  denied what she wanted. It was satisfying, but I couldn’t bask in the feeling, I needed to speak to the most important person.

It was a small surprise to see her waiting outside her room instead of waiting to not let me knock, the look on her face when she saw me in my armor was captivating, someplace between envy, and pity. Envy because I’ll be exploring further east than most Californians ever go, but pity... because I’ll be exploring further east than most Californians ever go.

“Look who’s all handsome in his brand new armor.” Layla said, trying to be coy, wasn’t particularly working, but I appreciate the effort.

“Yeah, don’t get used to it, it’ll probably be stained in my blood by the days end.”

“Why?” She asked, almost afraid of the answer.

“I told your sister...”

“About...”

“Yeah, us.”

“Why? Why would you do something so stupid?”

“Because I may not come back, and she pisses me off.”

“Oh my god, you’re stupid... Heh, heh...” She can’t even stay mad for long.

“Yeah, but you love it.”

“No. I love you.”

“I love you too.”

“So, would you...” She looked at the ground shyly.

“Would I what?”

“Would you like to... Spend the night with me?”

“Don’t we already do that?”

“No, I mean... ‘Together’.” She said using air quotes to emphasize the meaning.

“L-Layla. Are you sure?”

“Yes. I mean, we can’t send of the big hero before he’s been... ‘Taken care of’...”

“God your cute.”

“Just, shut up, and get in here.” She grabbed me by the hand and pulled me to the bed, and kissed me, while slowly, unstrapping my armor. That night, I made a silent promise. A promise, that meant I would return, no matter how difficult the trial. I would prevail, for her. I slept easy, knowing that I would have someone. Someone to come back home to.

I woke up early the next morning, to see beautiful Layla’s sleeping form lying bare next to me covered with only a bed sheet. I was tempted to tease her, but I figured I should get ready to head out, so I could be ready to say goodbye, and go when she woke up. It was a good plan until fate decided to fuck me again.

“‘I said, join, OR DIE!!!’” The voice woke up Layla, and I turned to see Romulus, uncloaking from a stealth boy field, already in mid powerfist punch at my face. I barely avoided it, and made to punch him, but he blocked it and kicked me across the room, I knew I would never win in hand to hand combat, so I made a sprint across the room for my .44, while Layla, wrapped in a bed sheet, ran to get help. By the time I’d grabbed my revolver and taken aim, Romulus was already punching again, I was aiming for his stealth boy, hoping the unstable energy fields would at least blow his arm off, but no. A couple of eggheads tell me, that instead of causing unstable power fluctuations and starting a meltdown, I redirected the circuitry, and instead of it creating a field to hide a visible object, it created a field to reveal invisible objects. Basically, it was able to see through the very fabric of the universe, and what little power fluctuations I did cause was enough to not only see, through reality, but enough to rip open a whole in the universe and suck both Romulus and I through, needless to say, when Layla came back with Celeste, and Michael, all that was left was the stealth boy.

“Captain! Captain, he’s waking up!” A voice was yelling as I woke up, in what I determined was a prison cell.

“Good, get him out of the cell, and into the questioning room.” Another voice spoke. This one deeper, more masculine. A man came and unlocked the cell, and dragged my groggy ass out. He cuffed me, and grabbed my arm, forcing me to follow him. Turns out, our destination was a stone room, with a table and two chairs in the middle. I was forced into one of the chairs and the guard left the room, about a minute later, a man with slicked-back, blue hair, and metal armor resembling that of the legion walked in, and tried to interrogate me.

“Hello.” He was very, very talkative.

“Hello. Where am I?”

“I’m the one asking the questions.”

“Evidently not, sir, because you haven’t asked one yet.” This guy did not look happy with me.

“Young man, please respect my authority.”

“Authority? Dude, I don’t even know who you are.” He seemed legitimately surprised by this, which only furthered my desire to screw with him.

“I am Flash Sentry, Captain of the Royal Guard.”

“Royal guard? Not ringin’ any bells here buddy.”

“You’re lying, everyone knows the Guards of the Royal family.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Where are you from?”

“The Mojave Wasteland.”

“Never heard of it.” The guard gave me an exact imitation of my tone.

“Oh can’t miss it, atomic hellhole, in the middle of bum-fuck nowhere.”

“Watch your tongue!” He yelled while abruptly standing, and slamming his fists on the table. “You will tell me the truth. Now.”

“I’ve told you the truth, if you don’t believe it, then it’s your problem.”

He made a quiet, but annoyed growl. He looked at me, then turned away, and walked out of the room so he could speak with the door guard. “He isn’t cooperating. Tell Princess Luna I tried, and failed... We’ll need her, expertise.”

“Yessir.” The subordinate took the order, and jogged away.

“I didn’t want it to happen this way, but if you won’t tell the tru-” He made a sharp gasp, as I appeared behind him, with my unlocked shackles, now cuffing him to the bars on the door.

“Let’s see how you like it.” I told him as I returned to my seat, so I could wait for this ‘Princess’.

“He’ll tell you nothing?” Luna asked the young guard.

“At least, not the truth Captain Sentry tells me.”

“I suppose we must... Dig... For the answers then.”

“Yes, ma’am. The prisoner is right thi-... This way?” They turned a corner, and saw Flash Sentry handcuffed to a door.

“Um... Hello, your majesty... This... Isn’t what it looks like.”

    “Well Captain, I’m not sure that Twilight is into that sort of thing, but... I don’t think she’ll mind.”

“Sir? Where’s the prisoner?”

“Still in here!” I exclaimed. A few moments later, what appeared to be a sixteen year old girl, with blue hair, and pale peach skin walked into the room.

“Layla?”

“Brute?” We spoke at the same time. “No. No this isn’t possible. You’re dead. I watched you die!”

“What are you talking about?” I asked, very confused.

“Brute... *Sniffle* No... You died in my arms, you can not be here.”

“My name isn’t Brute. It’s Lucius. And I assume yours isn’t Layla.” She didn’t respond, she was only shaking. I walked up to her, and put my arms around her, trying to calm her down. She didn’t really calm down, just shook less, and cried more. We stayed like that for five minutes before someone could get Flash out of the cuffs, and get Princess Celestia.

“You really aren’t him.”

“No. No I’m not, to be honest, that’s probably a good thing.”

“Why?”

“I’m a bad man, not evil, at least I wouldn’t call myself that, but I’m not a good man.”

“What have you done to consider yourself a bad man?”

“I’ve hurt a lot of people, either physically, or emotionally.”

    “Yet you still rushed to hold a crying lady?”

“Yeah, truth is you look like, someone I know.”

“Is she your lover then?”

“... Yes... Yes she is, It wouldn’t be wrong saying you looked completely identical.”

“I... I understand that feeling.”

“So Brute? He was your lover?”

“Yes.”

“What happened to him?”

“He was killed, a thousand years ago.” I let go of her, and she nearly fell to the ground. “Why did you do that!?” She yelled, regaining her balance.

“A thousand years ago?”

“Yes, what about it.”

“You look like you’re sixteen!”

“Don’t make fun of me!”

“I’m not, but you’re implying that you’re over a thousand years old.”

“Which I am.”

“How?”

“I haven’t died? I don’t know.”

“How do you not know, you’ve had a thousand years to figure it out?”

“Really? We’re really going down this route?”

“No, but you stopped crying.” She stopped being annoyed, and became elated when she realized that her eyes had stopped tearing, and she had regained complete control over her senses.

“T-thank you. I wasn’t sure how I would live it down if my sister had to comfort me in front of all our subjects.” She said, relieved that she had reclaimed her composure.

“Really, you were afraid of embarrassment, but not breaking down right in front of a stranger?”

    “Well... You don’t seem like a stranger. In fact, you do seem a lot like Brute. Do I seem like your Layla?” She looked at me, with the exact same quizzical expression that Layla had when questioning me.

    “Yeah, you seem exactly like her.”

    “Good, now. We should probably see my sister, and figure out what’s going on.”

    “That would be a good idea.” We walked for five minutes in total silence, not awkward, not uncomfortable, just pleasant, quiet, silence. Until i had a thought, Some exactly like me existed here, someone exactly like Layla exists here, that means someone exactly like-

    “LUNA!!!!!!!!!!”

    “Oh this was a bad idea.”

    “Why?”

    “I forgot... She hated Brute.”

    “So we should run?”

    “No, we’ll never get away.”

    “Take the brunt of it?”

    “That’s all we can do.” We stood, and awaited our fate, within moments, the angry form of Celestia, who pretty much looked like Celeste in a very fancy dress, and a crown, power walked her way towards us.

    “Luna, what is the meaning of this?”

    “As a pronoun, adjective, or adverb?” I asked like a smartass.

    “You, will keep quiet, Brute. Not only did you return, you made my sister cry.”

    “No, Tia. He isn’t Brute!”

    “Lulu, how can you look me in the eye, and tell me that he isn’t who he is the exact likeness of?”

    “I believe that he is from another world, like with the mirror, but somehow he came here without one.”

    “Then why does he look like, that, man?”

    “I don’t know.”

    “Why do you look like my girlfriend’s sister? And why does your sister look like my girlfriend? And why the hell would he have come back, if you hated him? And lastly, where the hell are my guns!?”

    “Your weapons are being held by my guards. As for the rest of your questions, I do not know.”

    “Wait, why did you hate this guy so much?”

    “He was a killer.”

    “Like a mercenary, or a raider, or a soldier, or what?”

    Luna tried to explain. “Lucius, when I was first gaining power from our parents, I was given the task of creating a guard for myself. I was, and still am, considerably weaker than my sister in terms of strength, and magic-

    “Magic?”

    “Just let me explain. I figured that my guard, would need to be a bit less... Predictable, to potential threats towards me. So whereas my sister looked to the central regions of Equestria for her guard, I looked to the northern ‘uncivilized barbarians’, as she called them.”

    “I took that back, Lulu.”

    “I know, and I’ve forgiven you, but they were still citizens of our nation, and they deserved respect.” Luna said, turning her back from Celestia.

    “Luna, don’t be like that to your sister.”

    “Hmph.” Celestia laughed. “Are you sure you aren’t Brute?”

    “What do you mean?”

    “I hated him, I let it be known from the moment I met him, yet he always told Luna, ‘never be mad at your sister, she loves you, even more than I do.’ Gods, he was annoying.”

    “Sounds like you didn’t hate him as much as you let on.”

    “Maybe not that much, but I still hated him. Anyway, it doesn’t matter, I’ll believe you for now, why don’t we all sit down, and try to get you home? In the meantime, I’ll introduce you to some people who can keep you company while you’re here.”

    “Tia, you don’t mean?”

    “Of course I do, Lulu.”

    “What are you talking about?”

    “I’m so sorry for what she’s about to do, Lucius.”

    “CAN WE BE BESTBESTBESTBESTBEST FRIENDS!?!?!?!?!?!?”

    “Celestia, what the hell is this?”

    “My name is Pinkie Pie, what’s yours?”

    “I am Lucius Junius Brutus, Son of Augustus, hopefully father of none.”

    “Why wouldn’t you want to be a father? Babies are AWESOME!!!”

    “Let’s just say, drugs are bad, m’kay.”

    “You do drugs?” Asked a woman with blue, purple, and pink hair. Who I later learned was named ‘Twilight Sparkle’.

    “Not anymore, I tried ‘em once, my father beat the hell out of me.”

    “You father hit you!?”

    “Of course he did, I was doing something stupid.”

    “You were... Experimenting...”

    “Yeah, with drugs, whores, liquor, and caps.”

    “I’ll ignore the first three, but what are caps?”

    “We use ‘em as money, bottle caps from before the war.”

    “War?” A girl with light pink hair, later revealed to be named ‘Fluttershy’ echoed the word.

    “Yep.”

    “You bring it up so casually.”

    “I know, unfortunately it’s a common occurrence back home.”

    “Why?”

    “Because it’s constant, unlike so many things in my world... War... War never changes.”

    “That’s awful.”

    “I know, but I wouldn’t be alive without war.”

    “Isn’t that the opposite effect that war is supposed to have?” Twilight asked.

    “Well, yeah, but my father was a military deserter, he left right before the biggest battle in recent history. He followed his former companions to observe them, met a slave woman he fell in love with, had me, got kil-” My eyes widened before I finished my sentence. “Celestia, I need my weapons, now!”

    “You will get them back when you leave.” Celestia told me.

    “NO! I was sent here by accident, because a man was trying to kill me, and that means that not only am I here, he is too!”

    “Why was he trying to kill you?”

“Because I wouldn’t join his fucking army! He killed my father a year ago, and now he wants to kill me.”

“If he killed your father, why would he let you join his army?”

“My best guess is that he thought I’d be afraid of him, and submit.”

“He gave you a year to decide to join his army?”

“No, I ran, I took my mother and ran west to California.”

“That’s a country I assume?”

“Yeah, the NCR, New California Republic. The president is my uncle, and he spent eight months training me so I could get revenge on Romulus.”

“Who’s Romulus?”

“The man who wants to kill me.”

“We have an entire garrison of guards here, you’ll be fine.” Celestia said.

“You have spears, and hope. He has guns and rockets. He’ll kill your men, rape your women, and enslave your children.” Almost everyone in the room cringed at the thought.

“What makes you think he’ll really come for you?”

“He’s a brilliant man, but he is very single-minded. When he sets his mind to something, he will not stop until his goal is met, or he dies.”

“Fine, I’ll compromise, you can carry one of your weapons, let me repeat myself, ONE of your weapons, if I see you with anymore than what I watch you pick up, you will be stripped of your weapons, and thrown in the dungeon.” I didn’t like it, but I had to agree. I wasn’t safe, and I wasn’t stupid. Celestia took me to her castle’s storage facility, otherwise known as a closet, and I retrieved my anti-material rifle, and it’s ammo. If I was going out, I was going out with a bang.

“Thank you, Celestia.”

    “I’m a princess, please refer to me as such.”

“Christ you sound like Celeste.”

“What was that?”

“I said you sound like Celeste, highest ranking general in the NCR Army, and personal bane of my existence.”

“Celeste... Is she me?”

“I sure think so.”

“And she’s a soldier?”

“Yep.”

“So she’s... Killed, people?”

“I haven’t met a general who hasn’t.”

“I couldn’t imagine it.”

“Killing people?”

“Yes, it’s a horrible thing to do.”

“I know.”

“Yet you, and people in your world, you do it all the time, for the same reasons?”

I stopped dead, then I turned to look at her, with pure uninhibited rage in my eyes. “The same reasons? NO! I do it to protect people, soldiers do it to protect their ideals, tribes do it to protect their memories. The only thing we have in common is that none of us enjoy it!”

“If you didn’t enjoy it then you wouldn’t do it.”

I clenched my fists, and ground my teeth, she was letting me be free, and she didn’t have to. I didn’t want to be thrown out into unfamiliar territory, but I swear to god I wanted to break her fucking jaw. “The only people who enjoy killing are serial killers, demented rapists, mentally disturbed child molesters, and horrid slavers. All of whom, I, and my family, have spent the last seventeen years trying to destroy.”

“You could have created a police force, instead of dispensing justice the way you see fit.”

“We don’t do it because we think they’re evil, nor because we enjoy killing, but because our world isn’t just peachy fun, and fucking, butterflies like yours. We knew that some people can’t be changed, and are better off with a bullet in their head, and if you think that a bunch of lazy, complacent men with guns, and stupid uniforms will keep people safe, then take a look at my world when you get the chance, take a look at the women who are raped, then sold into slavery, or the children torn from their families, and forced to be soldiers. Take a look at the destruction that Romulus, and people like him, have brought across the wasteland, leaving nothing but death, and destruction in their wake, all under the false promises of safety, and stability.” Celestia was frozen. Like Celeste, she was used to getting her way, and people not talking back to her, but somewhere she had to concede, she had spoken without thinking, and it had caused her to be irrational.

“I must apologize, I didn’t know, and I spoke without thinking.”

“It’s alright. I forgive you.”

“You are just like Brute.”

“How so?”

“I hated him, tried to make him leave Luna... The truth is, I lied to her, I told her I hate him because he was a barbarian, but the truth is... I... I was afraid he would take my little sister away.” She was crying, I put a hand on her shoulder, in an attempt to comfort her.

“And that’s why you were so cold to me? The fact that I look like him, brought back those feelings?”

    “Yes. I just don’t want to lose her, she’s the only true family I have.” She wiped her eyes while still sniffling, I wondered if maybe that wasn’t the same reason that Celeste hated me. I also wondered why women have a bad habit of breaking down and crying right in front of me. All this crying, and wondering was cut short, when a man wearing a deer pelt ran up to Celestia and I.

“You are Celestia? High Princess, and Low-Duchess of Canterlot?”

“Yes? Who are you? And Why didn’t my guards alert me?”

“Your guards do not know I am here, and I am Frumentarii, under Governor Romulus, and you have something that belongs to my lord.”

“And what would that be?”

“Him.” He gestured at me, and Celestia glanced in my direction.

“What do you mean he belongs to your lord?”

“His father was legion, and by legion law, the sons of legionnaires, are property of Caesar.”

“Your father?”

“He left the legion, we spent my entire life keeping them at bay. What I want to know, is how long has Romulus been ‘Governor’?”

“Three months.” The man answered.

“Celestia, when was I found?”

“Late last night, my sister sensed strange anomalies to the south, and sent a detachment of guards to investigate. That can be figured out later, but for now, what will happen if I refuse to hand him over?”

“The Second Legion will come, and burn your pathetic nation. I have confidence you will reach the correct decision. You have a week, we will waiting, and watching.” And as soon as he appeared, he was gone, needless to say, Celestia was less than amused.

“We will need to speak with my sister, and all the guards. Something tells me, he won’t just go away if I hand you over.”

“No, if you do, Romulus will think you’re weak, and invade anyway. If you don’t he’ll respect your resistance, but he’ll still invade, you just might not be crucified.”

“So what do we do?”

“I’m sorry, but, you’ll have to fight.”

Chapter 2

Celestia and I found Luna, and regathered that ragtag group of misfits they call friends, as well as Celestia's niece, Cadance, and Cadance's husband who is also Twilight's brother, Shining Armor, then we had a little meeting. "Alright, I'm sure you're all wondering why I've gathered you here today."

"Because Equestria's gonna be invaded by an enemy we have absolutely no chance of beating do to the likelihood of their numbers being superior to ours, the brutality and efficiency of their commander, and their near unrivaled logistical capability in our world?" Pinkie Answered.

"... The loud, bubbly, pink-haired one is right! In reality, you're screwed."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence." Twilight remarked.

"Shut it purple, yes, I have no confidence in your ability to beat the Legion, three months old, or no. Hell, the NCR couldn't beat the Legion."

"What kind of advantage did this NCR have over us?" Shining asked.

"Weapons, armor, training, logistics, a long standing hatred of slavery, and a professional army."

"We have a hatred of slavery, and a professional army."

I looked around, all I saw was a few men and women in gold armor, malleable, not good for fighting. Also, gold spears, that could work if they managed to catch a Legionnaire off guard while he was taking a piss in the fog during a thunderstorm. "Where?"

"Look at the men and women guarding Princess Celestia, they are the best Equestria has to offer."

"Yeah well your offer has been declined. These people will die instantly, you will be invaded, then, there won't be an Equestria anymore, because some foreign soldiery came took your women, and slaughtered your men for sport."

"What do you mean? They are elite warriors."

"They would be children playing war."

"Hey!" One of the guards spoke up. "Why don't you say that to my face?" I walked over to her, and stood over half a foot over her. "Fight me." I raised an eyebrow. "What? You afraid to hit a gir-" I kicked her in the shin, then when she was distracted, I landed a punch on her gut, leaving a dent in her armor the exact shape, and size of my fist, she was on the ground before anyone realized I moved.

"What the hell? You come in here insulting Equestria, then you assault a royal guard? You should be tried for this!" Shining yelled.

"No, Shining." Luna came to my defense. "He's right."

"What do you mean?"

"If this 'Romulus' is who Lucius thinks he is, then he not only is stronger than any soldier we have, he's also smarter, better trained, and has a mind developed for war. Lucius, do you have any idea what we could do?"

"Just one. Earlier, you brought up magic?"

"Yes. What about it?"

"Explain it to me."

"Do we really have time for this?"

"Please."

"Alright. Magic is the force that connects all living things in this world, I say this world because when we found you, we had to physically load you into a wagon because levitation magic just wouldn't work. Neither did any other form of magic we tried using on you."

"Ok, explain forms of magic, you mentioned levitation, what else can you do?"

"Telekinesis, manipulation of inanimate objects, teleportation."

"Teleportation! Explain that, that sounds promising!"

"Well, magic is used to rip open a hole somewhere in reality, and open another hole somewhere else, which someone can walk through. Why?"

"Do you think that you could open a hole, in another reality?"

"I suppose it's 'theoretically' possible. What are you getting at?"

"If you could open a hole to my world, I could get the NCR to send military assets here."

"But weren't they defeated last time?"

"Yes, and the public will not allow them to go to war with the legion again."

"Then why are you suggesting it?"

"Because the public doesn't have to know."

"How would they not? It's nigh impossible to move an army without the people noticing."

"I'm not gonna ask for an army."

"Then what?"

"An Arizona Ranger,” I paused, and looked Luna directly in the eye. “with a big iron on his hip.”

-

“So, these ‘Rangers’, are special forces?” Celestia asked after I finished explaining what the NCR Rangers were.

“Yes, they’re handpicked from the rest NCR military, and are known as much for their shrewd reconnaissance capability, as their prowess in combat.”

“If they are that powerful why weren’t they sent to defeat the Legion before Romulus came here?”

“Because congress is in no hurry to risk another war, and my uncle was a Ranger when the NCR last fought the Legion so he has no desire to send them in unless he knows exactly what he’s sending them into. This time he does know.”

“What’s a congress?” Luna asked.

“The Republic’s legislative body, I don’t know what you might compare it to. It’s made up of two houses, the Senate, which is the upper house, and the house of representatives, which is the lower house. Their job is to create laws, and they have the power to declare war.”

“If they’re the ones who declare war, then why can your uncle send military aid?”

“He’s the President, the head of state. If congress’ job is to create the law, then his job is to enforce the law, he is also the commander-in-chief of the nation’s armed forces. It also helps that he’s buddy-buddy with the Army’s top general.”

“You mean, Celeste?” Celestia asked.

“Yep, and I hate her, I hate her with every goddamn fiber of my being.”

“Yet, you associate with her?”

“Yeah, I kind of... Slept with her sister...” The moment I finished the sentence, Luna was blushing, covering her chest with her arms, and backing away, while everyone but myself and Celestia stared at her.

“Y-y-y-you mean, you’ve!?!? ... GAahh!” She fainted.

"... Wow," Pinkie popped in. "This almost seems like some two-bit story written by a sub-par author who only has three jokes in his head."

"Oh hell yeah." I said. "Shining Armor, was it?" I knelt down to make sure Luna was alright.

"Yes, what do you want?"

"Can you get me a map of Equestria, and the area surrounding it?"

"Yes, why?"

"I want to find out where the Legion is hiding, and where they're likely to strike."

"Fine."

"I'm glad we've come to an understanding."

"We 'haven't' come to an understanding."

"I know, I'm trying to be civil."

"Alright. I'll accept that for now."

"Just get me the damn map." While Shining Armor marched off, his wife walked up to me.

"I'm sorry about him. He's always been a little harsh with new people."

"It isn't a problem miss, Cadence, was it?" A stood to look her in the eye, a show of respect if nothing else.

"Yes, Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, but Cadence is fine." She giggled.

"I'm sure you've been told, but I am Lucius Junius Brutus." I gave a small bow.

"So, what's your world like?" She asked almost too sweetly.

"Everything sucks, everyone's dead, and dogs are robots."

"... What's a robot?"

I sighed. "This is gonna be a long, long, time."

-

Shining Armor came back twenty minutes later with a large map, on it was Equestria and outlying areas, as well as resources like ore, and timber. It showed two mountain ranges, one to the northeast, and one to the southwest, the northern towards timber, and southern near ore. Both prime locations for Romulus to set up shop. More interestingly though, was that to the north, a non-equestrian territory piqued my interest. "This, right here. This is where Romulus is."

"How do you know?" Shining asked me.

"This." I pointed to the neighboring state on the map. "The Northern Griffon Tribes."

"Why would he be there, they aren't even civilized."

"One, don't throw that word around too often, it'll get you killed. Two, the legion loves assimilating tribes to gain soldiers and citizens."

"Why? Don't they have enough?"

"They've had enough for years, but it's legion procedure to always want ten times more than you already have."

"That doesn't make sense. Why would they waste the lives of their people?"

"Because they'll always be able to get more."

"Well what happens when they run out of tribes?"

"Then they aim for nation-states."

"And after all of those are gone? How will they get their soldiers then?"

"They won't need anymore soldiers, just enough to crush any rebellion. After that they'll be perfectly happy subjugating everyone."

"Gods, why did your people let something like that exist?"

"'My' people had no way to stop it, and the NCR didn't even know the legion existed."

"What do you mean your people, you're from the NCR, aren't you?"

"No, I'm a wastelander."

"What is that?"

"People who are born and raised in the atomic wasteland. What's left of Earth, after the Great War."

“That again? I heard you talking about it earlier, what was it?”

“It was the war that destroyed the world.”

“Obviously it didn’t destroy the world, or you wouldn’t be here.”

I rolled my eyes at the comment. “It destroyed the ‘Old World’.”

“What do you mean by Old World?”

“The world full of hatred and corruption, when everyone had their lives handed to them. People lived in excess and fought over the most trivial of things. Two-hundred and twenty years ago, Earth’s two great powers, The United States, and China, went to war over the planet’s ever dwindling resources. The conflict culminated in nuclear war, scarring the planet for centuries to come. We live, just trying not to step on the pieces. That, is what the Great War was." I gave him my most annoyed look, hoping he’d get the message.

“Oh gods, I’m sorry. I didn’t know.” He said, mouth agape.

“It’s alright, you couldn’t have. Anyway it doesn’t matter right now. Right now, what matters is that you get scouting party gathered, eight people, fast and agile.”

“Why?”

“We need to know exactly what the legion is doing, how many men they have, what kind of weapons they’re working with.”

“That’s a good point, when are they leaving?”

“We.”

“What?”

“We’re leaving, you’re coming with.”

“Surely you don’t ‘need’ me to go with you.”

“Why are you so averse to a little field work?”  Shining bowed his head, hoping he wouldn’t have to say it. “You’ve never been sent out on a mission, have you?”

“... No... No, my entire career consists of sitting behind a gods-damned desk, or guarding a door with three other men.”

“Hmm... Well consider this your intro to scouting an enemy territory. Get a team, get back here. We leave tonight.”

-

“I DON’T GIVE A DAMN!” Layla yelled. “Just get the fucking thing figured out!” She was furious, NCR scientists gave her their theory on what happened to Romulus and I, and explained that they could replicate the effects, but it would be extremely expensive. Layla didn’t care though. Layla wanted to hit me for disappearing. Michael agreed. So smart assholes had their money, but they ran into a few problems along the way. “You’ve had two-hundred years to figure out stealth-boys, WORK ON IT!” She stormed out, and slammed a door, knocking pictures off the wall and shattering vases.

She stormed back to her room, attracting the attention of Michael, who was equally worried about me. He followed her, when he got to her room, she was already sobbing. "Layla, Layla open the door so I can talk to you."

"No, go away!"

"I'm not leaving until you open up the door."

"Then starve out there!"

"Ouch... Layla, I swear to God, I will get your sister an-" Before he finished his sentence, the door was yanked open, nearly tearing it off its hinge.

In the doorway was Layla, with her tear soaked eyes, wide open in horror. "Please, I never want to see that again."

"Good, now talk to me."

"Talk to you about what?"

"Why are you so upset about this? I thought you hated Lucius."

"What? I thought he'd told you."

"Told me what?"

"Before he dissapeared, we were... together. He promised he'd come back..." She began to cry again, Michael pulled her head into his shoulder, and offered solace.

"It's okay buddy, Lucius is part of my family, he'll be fine."

"How? How can you know that?"

"Because, our family," He let go of Layla, and stood up. "We kick reason to the curb, and do the impossible! We pull fate into our hands and slap it like it owes us money!" He made an incredibly flamboyant and inspirational gesture, pointing to the heavens themselves.

Layla giggled. Wiping her tears, she spoke. "Thanks, Michael. You always did know how to cheer me up. Even if it does involve everyone questioning your sexuality."

"Anytime kid." He patted her on the head, and walked to the door. "And by the way. What I said about my family, doing the impossible, I meant every single word of it. He'll come back. He'll come back, and he'll be stronger than ever. Just. You. Watch." He gently closed the door behind him, leaving Layla to think.

"Stronger than ever, huh? He'd better be."

-

"You're what?" Luna asked, as I told her my plan.

"I'm taking Captain Armor, and a small scouting party, are leaving to scout the Northern Griffon Tribal land."

"You know, Luna," Celestia interjected. "That may be a wise idea. We haven't received word from Chief Bravetalon for three months. If Romulus is assimilating tribes, his is the most powerful, and would likely be putting up the most resistance."

"A good place to start if we want allies against the Legion." I said, excited by the prospect.

"Yes, in fact he is the leader of the Griffon Tribal Council. With his word, all Griffons would be at our side."

"The Griffon Tribal Council?"

"The attempted peaceful union of all griffon tribes, it was created by Bravetalon's great-grandfather, Wisewing. Ever since, there hasn't been a single clash between the tribes."

"I think I need this in writing." I laughed. "That sounds amazing."

"I understand how you feel, when Wisewing first told me what he was planning, I thought it was nothing but a wonderful fantasy." Celestia tilted her head back, looking into the shining rays of her sun. "Of course, you must remember, our world was much more aggressive than it currently is. Of course, he made it work. We watched them grow from splintered, warring tribes, into a small, but wonderful nation of people who think, who build." Her happy, reminiscing gaze moved from the sun, to the land below the castle, her face of happy remembrance, became one of anger, and hatred. "They deserve better than subjugation at the hands of the Legion."

I waited a few seconds before doing anything, when I did act, I grabbed my sniper rifle, and slung it over my shoulder, then I turned to look at Celestia. "Don't worry," I smiled, and swirled around on my heels, punching a fist into the air. "I'll kick the Legion's collective ass! The Griffons will be safe, and then we'll drive those bastards back into the deepest depths of whatever hellhole they crawled out of!" I closed my eyes, and breathed for a moment, letting my words sink in, not only for Celestia, and Luna, but for myself as well. "You’d better believe it!” I stood there for what felt like hours, though it was only moments, until both Celestia, and Luna gave me the most sincere smiles they’d given in a long time. I turned and walked out of the room, I had a job to do, and by god, I’d get it done.

I walked for five minutes to the main gate of Canterlot, where Shining Armor had the team together, and all of them sitting on some some weird four-legged creature that resembled a malnourished brahmin without their udders. Or the second head. “What the hell are these things?” I asked Shining.

“What? Never seen a horse before?” He asked, I’m still not sure whether or not that was a rhetorical question.

“A what?”

“Just get in the saddle, you’ll learn how ride quick.” Said a green haired boy to my right, probably about my age. “I’m Spike, Twilight Sparkle’s adopted son, since she hatched me.” He had green, caesar cut hair, that is Julius Caesar not Asshole Caesar, his skin was a very light tan, he had irises that seem like green orbs a flaming passion. Boy was a warrior if I’d ever seen one, and that’s saying something, since in Equestria, warriors are hard to come by.

“Nice to meetcha.” I said, getting on the ‘horse’ as it seemed to be called. It was strange, like Spike said, it was quick job of figuring out how to ride the thing, but even he was amazed at how quickly I took to it.

“Are we ready to go Lucius?” Shining asked.

“Yeah, I think we are. Let’s move out!” We had no idea how lucky we were to leave that night.

-

Celeste had been sitting in her office for nine hours trying to figure out some piece of crap cube invented by some pre-war jackass with too much free time on his hands. It was a bullshit distraction, trying to get her mind away from the notion that she might be worried about me, she hoped that she wasn’t, that she was just pissed that my disappearance hurt her little sister so much. In any case, it wasn’t working. She dropped the cube on the ground, and stomped it, ending it’s miserable existence. She decided to make her way to the kitchen, maybe food would get her mind off of the subject. When she got there however, she was amazed at what she saw. Layla, running around, cooking, with a smile on her face. Celeste was relieved to say the least. “Did you finally get over asshole disappearing?” The moment she finished the sentence, her face was met with a pancake. “What the hell was that for Layla?”

“Don’t be an ass about my boyfriend!”

“So he’s your boyfriend now?”

“Yes, and when he comes back, he’ll have a goddamn sack full of legion skulls to punt off the roof.”

“Oh, he will now, will he?”

“Yes, and if you keep badmouthing him, I’ll punt you off the roof.” Layla said with an almost murderous air about her.

Celeste didn’t know how or why, but in that moment, Layla became the scariest person she’d ever met. “L-Layla, let’s not fight, I know Lucius will come back, I’m just joking with you.”

“You’d better be.” Layla said, holding a spatula next to her face with both hands, with a smile. “Or I’ll kill you.”

“I-I-I’ll just, go find Michael... Bye!” She ran like the goddamn wind.

“Wait! Don’t you want pancakes!?”

Chapter 3

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