New Prospects

The hoplites of Polisia attempt to recover their expedition in the south as new events unravel in Equestria…

In Chandleridge a large amount of fresh troops have finally arrived, including units of velite skirmishers, more legionnaires, and units of ballista all being led by a legate to take control of the army.  Legate Varinius, known for his brutal treatment of his enemies, going as far as too kill their own children to keep them from acting out again.  Varinius is also the heir to the throne of Emperor Duilius, giving him the ability to get away with these cruel acts.

Gregorios readies his century for any new tasks that await them with the new troops from their homeland and for the new threats they may face in the coming hours…

The sun clings to the horizon on the gloomy summer day.  Gregorios stands in his tent, clad in his centurion armor with his gladius and shield leaning against one of the legs of his table.  He stands leaning over the table with his hands to support him.  He glances over to the right to find Slate still asleep on the small bed they shared the night before.  She was wrapped up in the covers with her head hanging slightly off of the bed.

He cracked a small smile before walking over to the side of the bed.  He carefully picked her head up in his hands and laid her back onto the soft pillow.  He then gently tucked her in to ensure comfort before returning himself back to the table.

He leaned back over to look down upon the item once again.

The item was but a ring...

A golden ring with words of great meaning inscribed upon them.

‘Democratis a nativitate usque ad mortem.’  These were the words inscribed upon the ring’s outer side.  Translated to English it states:  Democratis, from birth unto death.  The words carry the meaning of loyalty to his family and its long history, but this ring does not belong to Gregorios.

He released a long sigh before setting himself down upon his knees and closing his eyes with the ring before him.  His hands softly gripped onto the table’s edges as he sighed once more, this one louder than the last.

Slate slowly opened up her eyes from the sound of the sigh to find Gregorios kneeling before the ring upon the table.  Her eyes widened open in intrigue as he then began to speak, as if someone else was in the room.

“Petronius, frater meus. Et post duos annos dierum de poena manet. Biennium reliquistis me. Amice, socius meus magnus frater.”  His voice quieted down, almost in a sadder tone.  “Sacrificium fieret in tempore diei huius: quia mihi mater, pater.”  The centurion’s voice then began to fall farther, as he gripped the table harder.  “Tibi laus, tibi me ad tristitiam atque recolere. Viderunt te, et in viis tuis Spero me secutum superbis. Memini nostra tempora.”  A small tear streamed out of each of his eyes.

Slate watched still, with her jaw hung open at the centurion as he continued.

“Propinquitatis… amicitiae… Et… amore.”  His voice fell more as tears began to stream from his shielded closed eyes as he gripped the table harder.  “Quaeso, me ducere ante tempora, ut quondam in alio.”  His voice came back, almost in a proud sounding tone now as a smile came across his face.  “Ut quondam, ut magnus frater meus.”

His eyes slowly opened up as he releases his grip on the table, letting his arms fall to his sides.

Slate quickly slams her eyes shut to mimic her sleep in order to not disturb the centurion… and to figure out what has happened of course.

Gregorios stood back up and took the ring into his left hand, examining it before bringing it up to his lips to plant a small kiss on it, before placing it onto his right hand’s ring finger.  He then pulled his right hand into a fist and placing his left hand over it before raising it to his mouth to blow warm air into his fist.

He then wiped the wetness of the tears from his eyes before proceeding to turn his attention to Slate.

“Slate.”  He stated softly, cracking another smile at seeing her ‘asleep’.

Slate feigned her awakening by opening her eyes in a slow and clumsy manner, before rustling herself about with a legitimate yawn.

Gregorios then chuckled as Slate got out of the bed, stretching her legs out.

“Good morning, uh… Greg-or…”  She attempted to state his name properly.

“Gregorios, Slate.  It is pronounced Greg-or-e-o-s.  Gregorios.”  He responded with a smile.

“Gregorios.  Good morning, Gregorios!”  She stated with a triumphant smile.

“When I was being sent out here, I didn’t think I would have to teach a pony how to say my name.”  He remarked to her.

“Hey!  I don’t even know what your language is.”  She retorted with a blush of embarrassment.

“It is Latin.  Very complex compared to English when you learn both of them.”  Gregorios then reached down to pick up his shield in his left hand and then placing his gladius in its holster.

“So… what are you going to do today?”  Slate asked, beginning to be comfortable being in the presence of the centurion.

“Mainly preparing the troops to move about again, we might stay here for the occupation though.”  He stated while adjusting his helmet’s plume upon his head.

Slate’s expression fell at hearing this.  “So… you might leave?”

“Well, there is a chance.  Slate, do you really have nowhere to go?”  He asked, concerned for her.

“Well… without my parents… Nopony will take a little filly like me.”  She stated looking down at the ground.

Gregorios released a heavy sigh looking at her.  “Slate… if we do leave, would you like to come with me?”

Slate gasped and looked up at the human.  “You… you would do that?”

“There aren’t any rules against it… yet, anyway.”  He announced the last part quietly under his breath.

Her eyes widened up with a grin coming across her face.  Slate suddenly latched herself to his leg in a tight hug.  “Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you!”

He reached down and pulled her off of his leg before setting her back down on the ground.  “Yes, well I need to get to work.  I assume you can navigate your way about the city?”  Slate nodded.  “Good, meet me back here when the sun reaches mid-day and we can see about all of this.”

“See you later, Gregorios!”  She excitedly yelled back as she ran outside of the tent.

He remained inside shaking his head at the thought of this working.  He looked down at the ring on his finger a nodded his head.

“This is what he would do.”  He states proudly before exiting the tent himself.

“I want this canyon covered stallions!  Get the clouds into position for the rainfall!  Come on stallions, we’re not letting them through here!”  A loud voice echoed off the walls of the tall grey canyon.

Pony soldiers dashed about the canyon, preparing it for a defense in the future.  Though, these are not ill-equipped soldiers, but the elite unit from the draconequess front, called to combat the human threat.  The soldiers were clad in proper iron armor, designed specifically for each race.

Pegasi wore lighter armor, covering their torso, head, and hooves to give them full control of their movement.  Pegasi were to act as shock infantry, leading charges with lances and swords in order to wipe out an enemy formation quickly.  Pegasi were also authorized to use their abilities with weather manipulation to change the tide of combat in their own favor.

Unicorns wore medium armor covering their torso, head, and hooves, like the pegasi, but heavier in order for them to fight better on the ground.  The unicorns were meant to act as skirmishers to fire their magic into enemy formations and hold off small attacks to cover for heavy infantry… the Earth ponies.

The Earth ponies are armed to the teeth with heavy armor covering their entire bodies.  Earth ponies are meant to act as the heavy infantry in the army, holding formations against enemies and taking a large beating in the process.

All of these soldiers are led by the legendary Commander Hurricane, who stands tall over the canyon.  Becoming the alicorn embodiment of war has made him quite powerful in his position as King of Equestria alongside Queen Clover, who remains back at the nearby village of Brinkburn.

The King’s alicorn body holds characteristics that make him the wielder of authority wherever he goes.  All of his features were hidden under his white armor, dark red coat, black mane and crimson red eyes.

His beloved has still not told him of the events that have made her so, nor does he know of his son’s whereabouts.  All he knows is that Chandleridge has fallen to a mighty foe that plans to continue until the ponies are wiped away from civilization, but he wasn’t going to let that happen… at least without a fight.

“Earth ponies, move the rocks into position, if they want to come through this canyon, then they better keep their heads up!”  Hurricane called out to a team of Earth ponies pushing boulders to the ledge of the canyon, in order to push them down to fall on troop formations below.

The stallions grunted with one final shove of effort as they rolled a boulder into position.

“Good work, now move the others!”

“Yes, commander!”

He nodded his head in approval and continued to look on as his pegasi troops placed their clouds into position above the canyon, now able to strike lightning down upon troops below.

Hurricane looked on and then nodded his head.

“Whoever this enemy is... they’re going to have a hard time.”

The ponies will need every advantage they can get to combat their new enemy…

Now the war has truly begun, both sides ready themselves for the further conflict to come...