In The Shadows of The Gods
Rainbow Dash, the Bringer of War
In The Shadows of The Gods
It is well that war is terrible. We should grow too fond of it.
-Robert E. Lee
Rainbow Dash, the Bringer of War
Canterlot was a ghost town. The threat of an invading army had forced the evacuation of the Equestrian capitol. There were no carts or carriages in the streets, only sandbag piles and improvised stone walls. The General was normally with the troops, but she got held up at the temple praying to Arco Iris, the god of war.
‘O Iris, Thou art my god, early will I seek thee. My soul thirsteth for Thee. My flesh longeth for Thee in a dry and thirsty land. So as I have seen Thee in the sanctuary. My soul followeth hard after Thee. Those who seek my soul, to destroy it, will go into the lower parts of the Earth. They shall fall by the sword, they shall be a portion for Diamond Dogs. But the kingdom shall rejoice in Iris. Everypony that sweareth by Him shall glory. But the mouth of them that speak lies shall be stopped.’
As she rose to her hooves, she placed her jet-black helmet back on her head, covering her chromatic mane. From the temple, she could see the enemy army advancing rapidly. Her soldiers stayed behind their barricades, waiting for the General’s signal. Rainbow drew her sword and flew like a spectral lightning bolt at the enemies. The soldiers below her saw, and most rushed forth to embrace the enemy.
Pegasi appeared from behind buildings and from the mountainside Canterlot lay on to encircle the enemy army. Blade met blade, and the first bloodshed, a disemboweling courtesy of Rainbow Dash, began a series of countless blows and cries from the bleeding and the bloodthirsty.
The main strategy of the invading Romanes was to create a wall of shields and strike any bodies that made it past likes bees defending their hive. The Equestrians didn’t suffer immediate casualties from this, but it disabled or amputated a number of soldiers. The Romanes had a hoof to hoof advantage, but the Equestrians had superior wingpower and long range capabilities. Many of the Romane soldiers never knew what hit them.
As Rainbow flew overhead, striking down the Romane Pegasi, she saw him: Saillius Matius, the most elite of all the Romane generals.
He was covered head to hoof in chainmail, with six silver spheres on his chest. He wore a golden helmet with a crimson crest perpendicular to his body and a bright red cape, both in contrast to his silvery body that matched his chainmail.
It was tradition, no matter what banner you brandished, that soldiers only fought other soldiers of similar rank. Rainbow Dash made it her goal to bring the princesses Saillius’ helmet and cape.
Unlike his troops, Saillius had no sword or shield, only wing blades. Being a master of the most difficult weapon known to ponykind and a lifelong soldier made him a menacing foe, but Rainbow had seen politicians more intimidating than him.
There were several Romane soldiers that flew in her way, and Rainbow put a quick (but not painless) end to their time in the sky.
Saillius was busy decapitating one of her soldiers, and Rainbow took the opportunity to rush him and gut him.
Then a Romane soldier’s mace crashing into her head put her out like a light.
She awoke with a pounding headache and her helmet askew. Even though the battle had taken place in the wee hours of the morning, it was somehow darker than when it began.
Apart from an eerie wind, the battlefield was silent. Then she noticed the distant clashing of blades. In the distance, her foggy vision barely made out a red-caped pegasus fighting somepony who was unmistakably Equestrian. Within seconds, the Equestrian soldier was cut down and collapsed in a bloody heap.
The caped warrior turned to reveal himself as Saillius, smirking smugly at Rainbow out of the corner of his eye. He seemed to be taunting Rainbow Dash, daring her to come and face the mighty Romane general in hoof to hoof combat.
If the challenge had been issued in writing, she would have sent her acceptance carved in a stone tablet in iambic pentameter.
She reached for her sword and grabbed a shield from a fallen soldier as she charged at Saillius. He was ready for her and blocked her first strike with both blades. Rainbow followed up with three slashes aimed at his neck; one couldn’t penetrate the chainmail, the other two never made it past his wings.
At first, neither one was able to make any progress; the battle was merely an exchange of blocked blows. Then Saillius found an opening. He swung his legs under Rainbow and tripped her, forcing her to drop her shield. His wing blades came down to remove Rainbow’s head, but she rolled to his left and slashed his knee in an effort to cripple him.
The exchange of blows continued and Rainbow noticed Saillius was favoring his right side. Using this to her advantage, she started moving continuously around him counter-clockwise, forcing him to hobble around on his bad leg. Once she felt she had him locked in a pattern, she suddenly shifted the other direction and slashed his right leg. He cried out in pain, and, knowing he had no chance on the ground anymore, took to the sky.
Rainbow followed gladly. After all, if anypony could make the sky her bitch, it was Lieutenant General Rainbow Dash.
Unfortunately, her first attacks amounted to her swinging wildly like a child. Saillius took this chance and swung at her head. He didn’t strike a fatal blow, but he left a nice cut on her face. Not a serious wound, but deep enough to leave a scar.
After that, Rainbow got her bearings and started fighting strategically again. She did what she did before and tried to get Saillius locked into a pattern of attack. Right, right, left, right, right, left, right, right, right, and a blow was scored.
Saillius’ right wing spun to the ground , as did the limb’s screaming owner. He crashed head-first, not only getting a good taste of Equestrian soil, but also just happening to land right in front of his disembodied wing. Before he could get back up, a shadow descended upon him, held his remaining wing down, and drew a shortsword across his throat.
For over a thousand years, Romane conquerors returning from the wars enjoyed the honor of the triumph-a tumultuous parade. In the procession came trumpeters and musicians and strange animals from the conquered territories, together with carts laiden with treasure and captured armaments. The conqueror rode in a triumphal chariot, the dazed prisoners walking in chains before him. Sometimes his children, robed in white, stood with him in the chariot, or rode the trace carts. A slave stood behind the conqueror, holding a golden crown, and whispering in his ear a warning: That all glory is fleeting.
There would be no triumph for Saillius Matius.
Vivat nox.
-ClarinetOverlord