And They Shall Know No Fear

Mount Metazoa. The place where all the beings of Equus gathered, from young to old, to resolve their political issues and disagreements once again became a meeting place for the heads of kingdoms from all over the world. The reason for the meeting, of course, was the recent massacre on the streets of the Equestrian capital, where elite warriors, the creations of Celestia herself, ruthlessly exterminated traitors who dared to take up arms against the Princess of Friendship.

Many, including friendly kingdoms, were deeply frightened by the ferocious rage and bloodthirsty temper of the legionaries. After listening to a number of concerns, and in some cases, direct accusations of creating the most terrible weapon in history, Celestia, who was sitting in the Hall of Unity with her younger sister and Solar, who stood at attention, went up on stage, catching the frightened glances of ambassadors and delegates, kings and princesses.

The former princess's speech was short but informative. In her message to the world, Celestia assured that Equestria had no reason to use the legion for aggressive purposes, she created them only to protect her home. White alicorn also reminded some of those present, such as the Changelings, of their aggressive past under the leadership of Chrysalis, whom everyone used to fear, but now they are a full-fledged and respected player in the political arena, despite the atrocities they have committed. In the end, Celestia issued a warning about the severe consequences in the event of an attack on the lands of the ponies, or their northern neighbor, the Crystal Empire, which was perceived by some as a threat, while others saw it as a challenge.

Throughout the meeting, all the gathered beings felt very uncomfortable with Solar Valdor in the hall, who was ready to stop an attack on his mother or Aunt Luna at the same second. His stone face was like cold marble, but his eyes never left his mother's figure on stage.

Sitting next to her nephew, Princess Luna imagined the image of her future son in his place. Just as deadly and ruthless, loyal only to her. Clad in night-colored armor, he would also stand by her side, ready to kill anyone who dared to hurt her. She just couldn't believe that soon her children would see the world, whom she, like her older sister, would love. The most important thing is to take into account the mistakes when creating the First Hundred, remove excessive aggressiveness and cruelty, and bind them with chains of rules and responsibilities. They will be the best warriors loyal to the crown and no one will dare to doubt their skill or loyalty! They would stand shoulder to shoulder with her sister's children and, in the heat of bloody battles, seal themselves with blood ties of brotherhood.

After finishing their speech, Celestia and Luna listened to the fears and veiled threats for another hour. They would have left the hall earlier, but the others might have seen bad taste in this act, which means that the doubts of those present could have intensified. At one point, Celestia's longtime friend from the hippogriff kingdom, Queen Novo, took the stage. In her speech, she expressed caution about the creation of Legiones Solaris, but stated that Equestria had and has every right to protection. The fact that Celestia had created these warriors from her own flesh and blood spoke volumes about her willingness to sacrifice them for Equestria's safety, despite her family connection. In the eyes of the Queen, such loyalty to her former subjects aroused unprecedented respect.

However, Celestia's words about peaceful intentions required confirmation, and therefore the griffins demanded that the alicorn's son leave the hall as a sign of confirmation of peaceful guarantees. To the surprise of everyone present, Celestia herself, without showing any anger or surprise, in a calm and gentle voice ordered creation to go outside and wait for her and her sister there. Without any objections, Solar slaps his hand on the breastplate of his armor and proudly leaves the hall, heading for the exit.

Every creature from the little breezies to the huge dragons he encountered in the corridor shunned him warily, like an angel of death, one touch of which could instantly kill. The Firstborn himself didn't care who or what anyone thought of him. His main goal at the moment is to protect his mother and aunt during the meeting, nothing else matters. Even the request of his mother, which for him was equivalent to an order, did not confuse the warrior, because he was confident in his abilities to react with lightning speed and come to their aid.

Closing the massive doors of the Hall of Unity behind him, the alicorn slowed down and began to look around.

Ahead was a berth for aircraft on which delegates from different countries arrived on the Mountain. The variety of aerial vehicles was great, from small balloons to huge airships. The sharp gaze of the Praetorian did not escape the presence of powder cannons located on the sides of some of them, which once again convinced him of the correctness of his mother's fears.

There was almost no one outside, only some of the security personnel of some kingdoms stood guard over the aircraft. Birds twittered overhead, circling in an aerial dance, and one of them, a very young bird, landed a little awkwardly on Valdor's left shoulder pad. He wasn't surprised, but the happy chirping of the baby bird alerted the warrior because he didn't show any fear. Maybe because of his youth, maybe still not understanding who he landed with, the green kid with beautiful blue wings looked at his new friend in a friendly way.

"Aren't you afraid of me?" Solar asked emotionlessly after receiving a friendly chirp. "It seems so..."

"Captain-General!" suddenly, a young white unicorn with a mane of twilight light ran up to him from the right. His name was White Corry, and he was just a rookie who was lucky enough to survive the mutiny.

"Private Corrie! Why aren't you on duty? Aren't you supposed to be guarding the ship?" calm voice of stallion carried the power of a thousand weapons, which made the unicorn's heart beat even harder.

Existential fear of the legionnaire caused very unpleasant impressions, and yet the subordinate was able to overcome himself, standing up to attention. "I'm sorry, Captain-General!" he saluted. "But Captain Marderic ordered me to patrol the vicinity of the Unity Hall!"

"And how are things going?" Solar asked casually.

"No suspicious persons have been noticed, and the guards of the delegations from other kingdoms are at their posts!" stallion almost shouted in one breath.

"Well done, rookie!" Captain-General said, looming over the private like a huge rock.

"Thank you, sir! But... May I ask you a question?" Valdor just nodded in the affirmative. "Why did you go out alone without the princesses? Something happened?"

"First of all, my mother and aunt are no longer princesses and are retired! Secondly, Celestia asked me to come out in order to show everyone present the correctness of our peaceful intentions!" there was annoyance in the warrior's voice. "So I advise you to keep your eyes open and keep patrolling!"

"As the Captain-General commands!" unicorn bowed.

Valdor watched as the recruit moved further and further away from him. However, focusing on one thing did not allow the warrior to miss the presence behind him. "I don't advise you to approach me from behind, changeling!"

Turning around, Valdor saw an elderly-looking female changeling, at the sight of which he wanted to make just one swing of his spear and end her miserable life, but at the last moment he was able to restrain himself. She herself did not show any aggression.

"It's funny, because those are the very words your mother told me at the Battle of Appleloosa six hundred years ago. Our old ruler, Queen Chrysalis, has set out to take over your southern city for the needs of the Hive..."

"...but Celestia banished you! And she spared you, because you were the only one from your Hive willing to surrender!" warrior interrupted her gloomily.

"Do you know me?" there was a huge surprise in her question. Of course, Solar knew who she was, because with the blood they inherited from their mother, they also passed on her memories, some complete, some fragmentary.

"Yes! Your name is Flying Bug! At that time, you were one of Chrysalis' commanders!"

"Oh stars! Unbelievable! You got more than just magic and divine beauty from your mother. But also the memories!" this made the stallion tense up, but Flying hurried to calm him down. "Don't worry, young stud... We changelings have a similar practice... Not everyone, only the queen's entourage, such as Pharynx, the defender of our Hive!

"Knowing too much can sometimes be dangerous..." Valdor did not take his eyes off the interlocutor.

The old lady just laughed softly. "It depends on what kind of knowledge it is, young pony... Even your mother keeps a lot of secrets to this day and, in her wisdom, is in no hurry to share them with outsiders..."

"To protect them!" Valdor replied dryly.

Old lady smiled sweetly. "Truly, you are her children! You look so much like her! Not only externally, but also internally! Even in spite of your ancestral hatred for me, there is that fleeting spark of mercy inside you that was laid down when you were created! I can see it in your eyes! But what I can't understand is your bloodlust! Celestia has never been as fierce and cruel as you are described today!"

"You won't hear anything new from me, changeling! We were created for war and only for it! We can't protect Equestria if we give in to pity!"

"I'm really sorry that you feel that way, dear... After all, it is pity that helps us not to make a mistake at the very last moment!" she took a step forward, to which Valdor was ready to react. "Even our mother Chrysalis had little compassion for us! Still, she spared me when I returned to the Hive, leaving me in a cage for many years. It was only with the arrival of Thorax that I was released from prison!"

"Chrysalis is a power-hungry creature that needed to be destroyed, not turned into a statue!"

"And yet your mom and aunt decided to listen to Discord and keep them alive, even if they were in a state of stone... And even though my words mean nothing to you, I believe there is kindness and compassion in you because you are the children of Celestia, the most merciful pony I have ever met..."

"And I am very pleased to hear your words, old friend..." voice behind Solar sent a shiver through his body. His own mother appeared out of nowhere, and he didn't even notice it. "Glad to see you in good health, Flying!"

"Princess Celestia!" changeling bowed happily. "I didn't realize you still remembered me..."

Celestia, without any hesitation, hugs her old friend in front of her wary son. "I always remember my friends..."

"It is a pity that the young friendship between our peoples had to wither away so quickly... Does Thorax still not trust you?"

"He's afraid, Flying! Just like your whole Hive!"

"I'll try to talk to him, Celestia! I think he'll listen to me!"

"I really hope so, dear... And as I can tell, you've met my son."

"He looks so much like you, Celestia... Especially eyes... They just read your kindness, even if he doesn't realize it himself..."

"He just wasn't born long ago, dear. He still has a lot to learn!"

"I'm sure you can teach them, dear... And it seems it's time for us to go home..."

"It was nice to see you..." friends bowed to each other. "I hope it won't be the last time!"

Without another word, they went their separate ways. After boarding the airship, the Equestrian delegation went home, as did all those who arrived. Throughout their journey, the Praetorian felt the wrongness of what had happened. Even before they came out of their mother's capsule, their mother pumped them with selective xenophobia, that outsiders should be fought to the last drop of blood, that they all wish only evil to the pony family.

The way the mother hugged the old beetle with a smile on her face gave rise to a seed of doubt, which Solar intended to get rid of.

"Is there something you wanted to ask me, son?" as if sensing her son's excitement, Celestia asked.

"I'm sorry, Mom, it's just that even before we were born, you pumped us up with hatred for them, and you smile and hug them..."

"Solar, honey, you know how much I love you all and Equestria! My friendly attitude towards them is just a front, just like their attitude towards us! In public, we are all friends, but in reality we are potential enemies! Don't worry, the time for this disgusting diplomacy will soon come to an end! As soon as the two remaining legions are ready, Unification will begin! The whole world will be ours! And don't think that I'm going to sit in Canterlot and drink tea! I will be the one who will lead you into battle!"

"But Mom..." a feeling of anxiety for his parent appeared on his son's face.

"No buts, honey!" she hugged her son sharply. "I created you, and I'm going to lead you into battle! Just like my sister! Although in the case of Cadance, Shining Armor will lay down the bones, but will not let his beloved wife die... We need complete dedication from you! Your workouts need to be doubled! I can count on you, right?"

"Yes, Mom..."