Just A Normal Day

Chapter I: Just A Normal Day

The centurion removed his helm to wipe the sweat from his brow. The hot summer day made the march arduous. After wiping his brow, he checked the bristles of his helm to make sure they still looked good. After finding himself satisfied, he replaced the helm to its rightful place upon his head.

The century had been marching for several hours now. With all the recent reports of suspicious activity in the area, the generals had scheduled frequent (and large) patrols in the woodland outskirts. The legionnaire ponies obviously didn't take much liking to the new schedule, but orders were orders. With everything that had been going on recently, the Equestrian legions couldn't afford to make any mistakes, or losses.

The centurion looked about their current surroundings. The woods became particularly thick in this portion; it made him uneasy. The trees were unnaturally dark, and the branches seemed to weave together in order to create a blind to hide the contents from any passerby. The overcast clouds did their best to prevent the sun from illuminating the forest.

"Commander Starbuck?"

He was so lost in pondering the surroundings that it made him jump a little.

"Yes, Golden Flash?" Starbuck replied in a stern tone over his shoulder, still observing the forest as it loomed around them.

"We've been marching for well over five hours, shouldn't we break march for lunch?" The mare asked with a slight hint of timidness.

He really didn't want to stop here. This had to be the worst place in all of Equestria to take a break. Something just felt so wrong about this place, but he couldn't put his hoof on it. As much as he wanted to get out of there as soon as possible, the ponies needed the break. Wearing them out wouldn't do anyone any good.

"We'll break for lunch at the next clearing." He replied, keeping most of his focus on the surroundings.

The roads didn't really help all that much either. They were wide enough for about eight or so ponies to walk shoulder to shoulder, and the woods seems to do everything in their power to overcome the road. Its as if the forest was insulted by the presence of any product of civilization, and did everything in its power to eventually consume it.

They had kept the march brisk through the morning. Nopony wanted to be there. Who could blame them? If the rumors about the place had any real merit, then being as far away as possible would be the most reasonable course of action. Trotting through the Everfree Forest wasn't exactly akin to a friendly stroll through the woods.

After a few moments of marching, The woods slowly began to break from the edges of the road, and a clearing could be seen up ahead. The legionaries were almost ready to gallop at the prospect of a good rest and lunch. The clearing itself was at least a hundred yards in diameter, with a healthy growth of vibrant grass and flowers adorning it - interestingly not very characteristic of the surrounding forest.

"Legionnaires!" Starbuck shouted. "Lunch break!"

The large group of ponies gathered in the middle of the clearing, and began breaking down in order to enjoy their lunch. It would be pretty uncomfortable, if not extremely difficult to eat with their armor adorned. Each legionnaire was standard issued a helm, a lance, a hoofblade, a scutum (shield) and armor that covered various parts of their bodies. They often also had to carry their equipment with them in saddlebags unless it was a long campaign.

Starbuck began unpacking his things in the center of the century on his chosen piece of ground. It was relieving to unstrap his shield and lance. Using his unicorn magic made it much easier, he couldn't imagine how much of a pain it was for the earth pony legionnaires. Golden Flash was right behind him the whole time, and begun unpacking her things as well. He removed his helm, and let his short blue mane rustle against the light breeze. It wasn't really that blue either - more of a cyan, or something in-between the two.

After removing his gear, Starbuck sat on the ground in a relaxed manner, and levitated his saddlebags to himself. he pulled out a hay bar with his magic, and took a bite of it. He grimaced a little. Hay bars weren't a lavish meal, but they did what they were intended to do - keep ponies fed, energized, and nourished.

"I can't stand these hay bars. I'd rather eat dirt!" Golden Flash snorted as she begrudgingly began eating her own meal. Her golden mane gently flapped in the breeze.

"If you want to eat dirt, there is plenty all around. help yourself." Starbuck nonchalantly retorted before taking another bite.

"Commander, you take things WAY too literally sometimes" she chuckled. "You should lighten up a little, These marches are pretty damn boring. Any high spirits we can muster is a good mark in my book."

"Lighten up? Have you seen the reports?" Starbuck was starting to sound a bit more agitated. Three tent parties had already disappeared on this very patrol route in the past month.

"How the hell am I supposed to lighten up about that? Why else do you think command is dispatching entire centuries now?" His deep yellow fur almost seemed as it would turn red with frustration.

"Well, yea! Honestly, I thought they were doing it for practice!" She snickered in response. He didn't know how she always managed to remain so cheerful. He kind of envied her. Kind of.

He briefly scanned the camp. The legionnaires were sitting in groups respective of their tent parties. Each tent party consisted of eight ponies, with one of them usually being a squad leader. The entire century consisted of ten of these groups, so there were quite a few ponies gathered in the clearing. The ponies were having conversations amongst themselves. He couldn't hear every conversation, but the body language of the ponies suggested they were in about the same spirits as Golden Flash.

"Is your tummy feeling funny?" Golden Flash asked him.

"Erm, what?"

"Well, you've got this funny look on your face, kinda like this!" She did her best to imitate the grumpy look that Starbuck was usually wearing, making it look more like a severe case of heartburn and indigestion.

"Something just doesn't feel... right. I can't put my hoof on it."

"How do you mean?"

"I'm not sure how to describe it, really. Its that feeling like something is watching you from behind, but when you look over your shoulder, nothing is there."

"I think you just woke up on the wrong side of the bed or something." Golden Flash stood up to stretch her legs. Her fur was surprisingly clean, especially being pearly white. How she kept it so clean while wearing armor, he would never know.

Starbuck was expecting a perimeter report soon - standard lunch break operational procedures. Fortunately, a legionnaire was approaching him now to deliver the report.

"Here to deliver the perimeter report?" Starbuck questioned the stallion.

"Yes, commander, I...ack-" The stallion trailed off.

Starbuck looked up at the stallion to see him staring wide eyed. A black chitinous rod was protruding from his open mouth, and blood had started running out of the corners.