Manehatten Castle

[iPOV: ]Lord Coin Counter of Manehatten

Lord Coin counter was not having a good morning. Waking up early in the morning to an emergency letter from the nobles council was bad enough. The letter itself telling him to raise an army to face a threat up north was even worse. And the threat being well armed humans who defeated a previous militia garrison despite being outnumbered was the worst ;art of it all. Rubbing his temples as he finished reading the message he had received via dragonfire. Knowing the rise in prices due to the farmers being away from their farms and the threat of an army will cause ponies to worry and panic at worst.

"I'm a damn business pony not a royal guard captain.." Coin mutters as he rolls up the scroll and puts it in his saddlebags. "But i cant just let them march here and ruin everything I've built here...". Getting up, he walks to the small window that overlooks the city. Watching the strong stone walls surrounding Manehatten fills him with pride, having spent the better portion of his life raisin this small fishing town to one of the most prosperous cities in equestria, rivaled only by those on the western coast.

Walking to the door and exiting his 'business' room, he goes towards a room he hasnt set a hoof in in years, the armory. Gathering a servant to have a message sent to his favorite blacksmith to be sent to there, He gathers an old dusty key from a secret compartment in his desk and opens it up before him. Looking upon his old suit of armor on its rack, Caked in a layer of dust from years of neglect. A few sections of mail having rusted over yet most appears fully functional besides a few scratches and dust. Walking up to it, coin circles it a few times to make sure nothing replaceable is rusted over like the mail.

"Steady hoof, tell the blacksmith i will need the chain-mail parts replaced as soon as possible..." Coin says to his servant behind him. Looking towards his broken spear, a banner with his crest on it coated in dried and rotted blood from long ago, lies below the spear tip. "And a new spear."

"Yes sir ill tell him right away." Coin hears steady hoof say as his hoofsteps can be heard echoing away.

"Haven't used this armor since the war, Never thought id use it again..." Coin takes a look back at the chest that had been the reason he avoided this room for five years. Walking over he charges up his levitation spell and slowly opens it. Revealing a cloud of dust. Causing him to cough and use his magic to blow it away. Then taking a look back inside, spotting the worn and beaten armor of dark blue, Yet the armor does not appear to be for ponies, Rather for a human.

"Why did you do it.. I know why you did.. But did you have to..." Coin silences himself as he hears hoof-steps approach him and quickly closes the chest and locks it. turning around to see the blacksmith and steady hoof enter the room.

"Good you two are here, I will need this armor repaired and a new weapon. There's a threat to the north that i have been ordered to.. pacify. I hope you can be done soon."

"Aye laddy ill have this armor better than when it was made. Getcha a new spear too, that one doesn't look usable anymore. Maybe a sword?"

"No no i already have a sword. Its in that chest right there along with some.. Personal items."

"You sure its still good? Could be rusty after all this time, Yer lucky the plate on this armor hasn't rusted away. If this room had a open window the metal would've been worthless."

"I'm sure. Its not just any sword." Coin says, ending any chance of further conversation by walking out of the room.

"Whats his problem?" The blacksmith asks.

"This armor carries some unpleasant memories for him. He fought against nightmare moon, He wasnt the same after that day..." Steady states.

"Aye i don't think anybody was after that.."

Coin Exits his Keep and heads out towards the town, Needing to deliver the news himself to the mayor and local guard garrison. Gathering two personal guards to escort him there. Looking at the unicorn and pegassus as the gatehouse raises the gate high enough for them to exit. Coin looks towards the city like a father does to a successful son. With pride he smiles and trots forward. Looking towards the ponies around the streets, waving to him and going about their day. Some free humans even look to him as well, Manehatten being one of the few places in equestria allowing free humans, Although most are still considered lower class citizens by new arrivals or nobles. Looking to some humans in chains by a blacksmith started up by a pony who came here. Most Manehatten citizens treat their humans kindly, some considered family. though fewer and fewer free humans walk the streets than he remembers.

"Shame some ponies think they can treat humans like that." Coin mutters lowly.

"Always the immigrants sir, Never natural manehatteners." The Pegassus guard replies.

"Seems there's more of them every day. Soon humans here will be treated like everywhere else." coin mutters again.

"Why do you care so much about them sir? I've heard some rumors you had some history with one." The unicorn guard asks him. "If you don't mind me asking."

"Its.. Personal, A story i don't like to tell. Maybe some day."

"If you say so sir."

Coin increases his speed past the slave auction, Avoiding the market completely and heading into the mayors mansion. Knocking on the door and hearing hoof steps approach.

"Ah Lord Coin, Good to have you over, Is there something you need?" Mayor onyx bolt asks while stepping aside to let the lord coin in.

"Yes, I need you to get the recruiters for the levy. And assemble my knights."

Mayor onyx drops his glass of tea from his magic grasp and stares at Lord coin for a few seconds. "Oh dear.. What terrible thing has happened for you to need to do that! Has nightmare moon returned?" Onyx asks in fear.

"No, a threat of Humans up north near hoofton. The local militia failed to stop them so the council in Canterlot asked me to assist and wipe this threat out before it can gain steam."

"Well.. I guess i will get the list of available ponies to be levied. I will send messages to the recruiters and your knights right away." Onyx turns to do his job as coin turns to leave, satisfied with the result.

Coin slowly walks back to his keep, deciding to get some rest for tomorrow. After all there will be a lot of planning for the as-semblance of the army....

Author's Note

Hey sorry about the short chapter but ive been busy thinking about a few coments left on the story last week, So, Im Gonna take a poll to see if i should edit something major.

Whether i should change it so that the Romans DID do slavery, But General Varian is opposed to it for some reason i will write in. That way those who complained about it not being 'historically accurate' can shut it and actually read it. (Looking at you guy in comments.) but that passive aggressive comment aside i think it would actually be a good idea. But id have to not post a chapter as quick as i would since id have to spend time looking through the previous chapters to edit them to include this reason to why the romans are opposed to it.

So after this chapter is posted i will have a blog on my profile page where you can vote with a comment.
https://www.fimfiction.net/blog/803549/story-vote