Frantic footsteps echoed through the empty hallway, down the barracks wing and out to the Praetorian common area. A senior officer passed by, and Tercio threw up a quick salute before rushing past him at a nearly full run. He had no time for pleasantries or formality. He cared only about reaching the infirmary. Not even a minute prior, a messenger stallion had brought word to his barracks -- Polaris was awake. It mattered not that it was half way through the night, it was news Tercio had been awaiting for what felt like an age.

The common area gave way to the central palace grounds, then the royal garden, before he finally reached the small cluster of buildings denoting the medicae quarters. He allowed himself a few seconds to catch his breath before entering the building, finding the apothecary looking over a stack of scrolls under the light of a row of candles.

"Bed fourteen, left side," the pony said after quick glance.

Most of the bunks were empty, with only a few soldiers scattered here or there with illness or injuries. The place smelled of medicinal salves and old bandages. Down near the end of the outer-most row, the unmistakable form of a unicorn lay with its mostly-wrapped head propped up on a small stack of cushions, its ivory-colored coat flecked and spotted with dried blood.

Slowly, cautiously, Tercio approached and took a knee.

"Polaris, can you hear me? It's Tercio."

There was no response for some time. Then, a groan.

"Tercio...?"

"Yes. I received word you were awake."

"So it would seem."

Tercio was suddenly overtaken with relief, sitting on the ground with his head in his hands.

"Your well-being has been at the forefront of my mind for many days. I was afraid you might die." He lifted a flask of water from beside the bed, holding it up beside his wounded comrade. "Are you thirsty? I could give you some water."

"Not...right now..." Polaris answered, weakly lifting a foreleg to push the flask away. His words came out slurred and what little of his face was uncovered was bruised and swollen.

"Very well. How are you feeling? Are you alright?"

"I...I feel as if I've been tossed down a mountain." Polaris' voice was raspy and he frequently had to stop to wince at some unknown pain. "But I'm...alive...at least."

"No thanks to me," Tercio said, not able to look Polaris in the eyes.

It was silent for a few long, uncomfortable seconds.

"Do you remember what happened, Polaris?"

"Yes...we were sparring. You had the advantage, but I...pushed back. And I...I started to taunt you. I can remember it clearly. Perhaps I shouldn't have--"

"I know it was all in jest, my friend," Tercio interrupted. "Believe me, it would take more than competitive banter for me to do this to you."

"And yet, here we are. Or, here I am..."

Tercio was unsure of what to say. He had tried to figure out his exact words for many days now, but nothing ever truly sounded like it could make up for what he had done. Perhaps nothing could.

"I'm sorry. For all of this. I don't know what happened, but I lost control of myself. You must believe me when I say that I became someone else. Even now, all I can remember are flashes, glimpses of violence. As if I were possessed."

"You...certainly fought like it." Polaris slowly turned his head to look at Tercio. "I have served...for...nngh...ten years of my life. And never...have I seen someone act so enraged."

More flashes of that day, red-tinted visions of fists pounding into flesh.

"I am truly sorry, Polaris. I would not blame you in the least if you did not trust me, much less want to serve alongside me."

"I cannot say. Not yet. I do appreciate you...coming here to apologize, however. It couldn't hurt to start anew, could it?"

"I suppose not," Tercio replied with a relieved laugh. He grasped his comrade's foreleg in his hands. "It's good to have you back with us."

"And I am very glad to be back. I remember...I remember there was something else. Just before you struck. I was saying 'attack, attack', and then...some other word. Something like...For...Falc...Faln..."

A clear memory of the past. A sword held high above an exposed throat, its hilt dripping with blood.

"Fal'naas," Polaris said at last, the word finally returning to him. Tercio felt his grip tighten at the mere sound of it. Something inside of him was reacting to the simple word, and even as he felt his heart beat quicken the sound of Polaris' voice seemed to fade into the distance.

"...are you doing? Tercio? Are you alright?"

With a start and a sudden gasp Tercio found himself once more in control. He sprang to his feet and stepped away from the injured unicorn, leaning against a marble pillar with heavy breaths.

"Gods above..."

"What was that?" Polaris asked with a look of concern and confusion. "You looked as if...you were...lost in thought."

"That word! Something about it--"

"You mean fal'n--"

"Don't say it!" Tercio shouted. The apothecary looked over in their direction for a moment before returning to his work with a shrug. "Please. Where did you hear it from? What in the world does it mean?"

"It's...a deertongue word, I think. I heard it during training...many years ago. Our old instructor..."

"What does it mean?" Tercio repeated.

"I don't know. It's just something he used to...say to us." Polaris pushed himself up on an elbow. "Is there something I should know?"

Tercio's mind was swimming, a great, swirling vortex of half-seen memories and a thousand emotions pulling on him at once.

"I can't be here right now. I'm sorry, my friend. I should remove myself before something happens again..."

"Tercio? I must admit to being...quite confused...right now."

"I-I have to leave. I will try to come by in the morning. I just need to get out of here." He stumbled towards the door without another word. A terrible pain began to build in his head and it took every bit of his strength to make the trek back to his bunk. He collapsed onto the straw-filled mattress, still fully clothed, and within seconds he began the most troubled night's rest since he'd assaulted Polaris many days ago.

A field of wheat, endless on all sides.

"They will be here soon. We cannot hold them forever."

"I know. We will be gone long before they arrive. Do not concern yourself."

"And what of the child? He is not yet ready."

Falling, falling endlessly through a sky of storms and fire.

"Then we will leave him. This does not change anything."

"It changes everything! How can you abandon us at such a time?"

A river of blood, thick with corpses.

"Patience. The time will come. We must simply wait."

A groggy morning came with the rising of the sun. Sleep had been nearly impossible, filled with images Tercio could hardly begin to piece together, if they meant anything at all. Wearily he'd dressed himself and strapped on his armor, giving a check to the daily assignment posting. A dozen stallions crowded around the scroll, searching for their names. Tercio found his half-way down: Throne Room duty. He groaned, not particularly looking forward to a day of standing around in an empty hallway guarding a set of doors.

"Look on the bright side," a stallion from Barracks Two joked, "you're a Praetorian now. You get to guard the second set of doors! Those poor bastards in the Royal Guard have to stand near the outer ones. You're moving up in the world."

By the time Tercio finished readying himself and headed down the hallway to the central palace grounds, then down to his assigned post, he found Morning Star already waiting. Beside him was an unfamiliar stallion in a sour mood who complained about the long night, barely managing a salute to formally leave his post before muttering about sleep. Once he passed through the first set of double doors leading back outside, Tercio leaned his back against the wall and let out a sigh. For most of the night he had tried to figure out who might possibly know what "fal'naas" could possibly mean, and why it caused him to react with such anger, but as far as he knew none of his comrades spoke Deertongue.

"Krosus," the pony said to him, tipping his spear.

"Star," Tercio replied.

"Another exciting day, hmm? Just think, we could be leading squads of soldiers in battle right now, instead of standing around like common guards. Makes you rethink joining the Praetorians a little, doesn't it?"

"Of course not," Tercio insisted. Morning Star eyed him skeptically. "...fine, perhaps a little."

"That's what I thought. By the way, you look terrible. Spend the night with a whore who didn't agree with your wages?"

"If only it were that simple." There was no way he could tell Morning Star about, well, anything that had happened during the visit to Polaris' sickbed. A half-truth would suffice. "One could hardly blame me for getting little in the way of sleep. My brother in the Legion is marching off to war as we speak. By this eve he may be in battle." Yet another thing thing to worry about. Truthfully he felt terrible for thinking about something as relatively pointless as a mysterious word when Victus may very well be fighting for his life, but it wasn't as if he could simply will himself to appear at his brother's side.

"I can only hope he lives to see the morrow," he said quietly.

Morning Star nodded. "I shall keep him in my prayers."

"Thank you."

Hours came and went, bringing little in the way of excitement. Occasionally a well-to-do pony or an officer would stop by for an appointment with the princess, and Morning Star would write their name and time of visit in the thick, hard-bound ledger at his side, or once in a while Tercio and Morning Star would talk about some of the few things that had in common, but otherwise it was just another long posting. It did, however, give Tercio a lot of time to think. There was one pony who might have the information he was looking for. All he had to do was gain access to her.

"Do you remember some time ago, when you misplaced your gladius?" Tercio asked, breaking the silence.

"Of course," the other said with a small laugh. "Stonewall would have had my ass if you hadn't let me borrow yours. Why do you ask?"

"Because I need to call upon that favor you owe me."

Morning Star swore. "Great. I should have known I'd regret saying that. What is it you want?"

"I need to see the princess as soon as possible."

"You see her every time we open the doors."

"You know what I mean, smart-ass. I have need to speak with her. Believe me, it's urgent."

"Maybe it is," Morning Star said, rubbing a hoof under the back of his helm, "but why not go through Stonewall? There's a chain of command for this kind of thing."

"I cannot discuss it with Stonewall, or anyone else for that matter. It has to be Princess Celestia." Tercio placed a pleading hand over his chest. "I promise, this will not come back to you. If the imperator wishes to bring down his wrath upon anyone, it shall be me alone."

"...and your plan is?"

"Put me in for a meeting with the princess before our shift ends. You can mark it in the ledger as, say...Gallant Hearthstone?"

"My uncle?!" Morning Star asked, raising his voice. Tercio had to shush him before they returned to a quieter voice. "Why in the nine hells would I do such a thing?"

"Because no one would question him showing up for an appointment. He's connected. And thus, so are you."

"But he lives half-way across the country!"

"Exactly. Who will find out? Certainly not him."

Morning Star lowered his voice to just above a whisper. "If I decide to help you -- and that is a very large 'if' -- then we are even. More than even. This is a far larger risk than simply misplacing a sword. You're asking me to lie on the official registry!"

"I know, I know, but this for Polaris' sake, not just my own. Everyone knows what I did, and I can't just make that go away. But I can try to make sure it never happens again." Morning Star tapped a hoof while he thought about the proposal. "Please. There is something going on that I cannot explain. Princess Celestia could be the answer I'm searching for."

Morning Star grumbled something to himself, leaning against his spear.

"Alright. I'll put you down for a few hours from now. But no more favors, understood?"

"Understood. And thank you. Whatever it is that's happened to me, I intend to find out."

The large doors of Princess Celestia's throne room swung open, groaning on their hinges. It had been several weeks since his first visit to the opulent, regal building, but Tercio still felt a sense of wonder as he entered. Lengths of multi-colored silk and gold trinkets wrapped around the carved marble pillars that supported the arched ceiling, and large windows let in the warmth and light of the mid-day's sun. At the end of the room, under the hanging banner of Equestria's lands, Princess Celestia sat with a scroll levitating in front of her. A cup of steaming liquid sat beside her; tea of some sort, he guessed. Tercio approached cautiously, still unsure of being in her presense under false pretenses.

"Ah, Sir Hearthstone," she said in a practiced, refined voice, still keeping her eyes on the scroll. "To what do I owe the pleasure? I realize it is a long trip from your home, surely you must--"

She looked up, jerking her head back slightly as she realized who she was speaking with.

"...Tercio? Where's Sir Hearthstone?"

"He's not here, Your Highness. Truth be told, he was never meant to arrive today."

She gave an inquisitive look.

"I am afraid I do not understand..."

Tercio approached the royal dais, bowing his head and saluting with his fist over his chest.

"I beg your forgiveness, my Princess, but I needed to see you as soon as possible."

"About what? Is something the matter?"

"Yes. It's about Polaris, and my actions that brought him to his current condition."

Celestia rolled up the scroll and placed it on a shelf, where it joined many others.

"I am more than willing to speak with anyone who requests it, but you must understand there is a process to such things. This unfortunate war keeps me quite busy."

"I know. I am deeply sorry for the misleading nature of my arrival, but I needed help that only you can provide, and I needed it quickly." Tercio hoped he had not overstepped his bounds.

"Hmm...while I cannot condone such an action, I can hear the conviction in your voice, and if speaking with you will somehow provide you answers for what you seek, then I will hear you now." She smiled lightly, adding, "but please, in the future, you needn't worry about coming to see me. I may be quite busy, but I know that the very heart and soul of this nation is its people -- you included. All you need to do is ask."

"Thank you very much, Princess," Tercio said with a sigh of relief. "That is very kind of you."

Celestia nodded. "Very well, what can I help you with?"

Tercio began to pace back and forth as he spoke. "Very early this morning, well before the dawn, I received word from a runner that Polaris was awake. I rushed down to see for myself, and was very glad to see it was true."

"I have not yet had the chance to see him. How is he?"

"He is doing well, though he is still quite unsightly with injuries. I can only hope he recovers quickly. But yes, I spoke with him at some length, mostly about the regrettable attack. I asked what he remembered of that day, and to my surprise he remembered far more than even myself. Most importantly, he remembered one word that I did not. That word is why I have sought you out today." He stopped. "Princess, you speak many languages, yes?"

"I do," she said, "many fluently, some less so. Why do you ask?"

"Is one of them Deertongue? The language of the Whitetail and Cervidaens?"

"Iyl fwelyyn tor al'wa'yys," she replied with a small laugh. "I speak it well enough. Though they would prefer if we called it 'The Common Language of Deerkind'. I'm guessing this word you're looking for is in their language?"

"Yes, at least according to Polaris. I will say it, but I must ask that you please do not repeat it back to me. It has effects that are...difficult to explain."

"What sort of effects? If this is something potentially dangerous I would like to know."

"It seems to trigger some sort of...uncontrollable anger, a deeply-seated rage that consumes my every thought. At first it's simply a strong urge, but when heard multiple times -- like when Polaris and I were sparring -- it clouds my judgment until all I can focus on is destroying the closest thing to me. It happened to be Polaris that first day..."

Celestia was quiet for a time. "I must admit, I've never heard of such a thing in all my years. This is quite odd."

"I know. I say it's something that controls my actions, but at the same time I feel as if there is an absolute clarity when it's overtaken me. Like all I've ever lived for is in that very moment."

"I see. What is this word?"

Tercio took a deep breath, as if preparing to speak great, terrible truths before the gods themselves.

"Fal'naas," he finally said.

Celestia mouthed the word, but did not speak it, as she compared it to Equestrian.

"It has no direct translation to our language," she said after some time, "but the closest meaning would be 'destroy without mercy' or 'kill with purpose', depending on the context."

"Destroy without mercy...I suppose that would explain my actions. Where does this word come from?"

"It's an old military order, from before the deer united into the two nations they are now."

"I don't understand, Princess...why would I have knowledge of such a word? Why does it seem to control me so? I have never even heard Deertongue until Polaris spoke it to me!"

"I don't know, much as I wish I could provide you with a more satisfactory answer. You're certain you've never heard it before the incident with Polaris?"

"Not that I can recall, no. It's as if it's simply come out of nowhere, and now I worry that I will be set off once more by something so simple. I do not wish to hurt anyone else."

Celestia stood up from her dais, stepping over to Tercio until she was just in front of him. Her voice was calming and comforting as she spoke.

"Tercio...in order to better understand what is at the heart of this situation, I need to see the effects of it for myself. What I'm about to ask of you is not something I take lightly."

He knew what it was likely going to be, and he hated having to contemplate it.

"I am going to speak the word to you, more than once. Then I can--"

"Princess, I must object," he interrupted. "You've seen what I did to Polaris! I cannot, and will not, let such harm come to yourself!"

"It will be alright. I assure you, I will be in no danger from your actions."

He almost couldn't believe what he was hearing.

"At least call some of the others in to restrain me, if you insist on such a thing!"

"I do not want them to see you like that again. Not if we can avoid it." She gave Tercio a warm smile. "I promise, nothing will happen. You understand why I ask this of you, don't you?"

"I do," he answered begrudgingly, "but I still do not like the thought of it. This...this...urge within me, it frightens me, Princess. Truly frightens me."

"I know it does. That's why we will control it before it controls you."

The idea of willingly losing himself again, especially before the very princess he thought so highly of, shook him to his very depths. Was she really so sure of her ability to control him? She obviously believed she could, but after the horrific assault on Polaris he felt nothing but trepidation. Still, if it held even a slim hope of helping...

"Okay," he relented, "I will do as you ask. But please, allow me a moment to prepare."

"Of course. Take your time."

Tercio removed his helm, setting it against a far wall, along with his arm guards, sword belt -- with sheathed blade still attached -- and leg guards. Finally, he pulled the long, thin dagger from its holster along the small of his back, tossing it aside with a clatter. Now removed of anything that could possibly injure or kill, he stood in the center of the long room and braced himself. Celestia had already closed the smaller set of doors that led her personal quarters and kitchen area, leaving only her and Tercio in the throne room.

"Alright," he said at last. "I am ready."

"Then let us begin."

Outwardly, Princess Celestia was as collected and calm as ever, not a single word or motion betraying the practiced confidence she'd become so used to showing. Deep down, however, she was as unsure as the human standing before her. She hoped she was wrong. Really, truly hoped.

"Please try to describe what you're feeling, if you can," she asked of him. In truth, she didn't want to strain him in such a way as she was about to, but far more than her own regret was riding on the results of her impromptu test.

He is dangerous, sister.

Such a simple word. An outdated word. A word not in common use since the days of her parents' rule. And yet, here it was, a hidden trigger that could utterly dominate the will of someone she'd watched grow for nearly his entire life. She hated to say it at all.

"Fal'naas."

It was slight, at first. A clenching of his fists, a tightening of his muscles. He shut his eyes against some unseen urge, inhaling sharply at the sensation.

"It is like...a trickle of blood at the back of my eyelids," he said after several seconds. "My mouth grows dry. I feel as if my body is braced for combat. I feel...strong."

A short time passed, and he nodded for her to continue.

"Fal'naas."

He fell to a knee, gritting his teeth. Something stronger was beginning to overtake him. He visibly fought for control of his own actions, his strong arms twitching as if to drive him forward. It took longer for him to respond this time, and his words came out between grunts of exertion.

"It is now...a stream. My body...calls for violence. Darkness. It is hard to...to think."

Celestia was becoming more worried as Tercio fought the urges wracking his body. She wanted to stop, but she knew she had to carry on for his sake. He would hate himself, possibly even hate her, but in time he would forgive.

"Please...do not let me...hurt you!"

"I promise."

Once more he signaled he was ready.

"...fal'naas."

For a long moment, he simply stopped, his head bowed, barely moving.

"Tercio? Can you hear--"

With a terrible shout he sprang to his feet, rushing forward faster than Celestia had thought possible. His eyes, wide and focused, gazed upon her with a horrible blood lust. Thinking quickly, she focused a small portion of her magic into an ethereal barrier that should have pushed back with enough force to temporarily stumble him. It didn't. Tercio pushed through the barrier as if it was not even there, his strong form speeding toward her. She had to take a step back to avoid a lunge, and Tercio fell to the floor. He pounded his fist on the polished marble, back on his feet within seconds.

This time, Celestia wrapped him in a cloud of sparkling, yellow energy. He yelled at the setback, gritting his teeth in exertion, never taking his eyes off her for even a second. The look of pure, unbridled hatred shook Celestia to her very soul. Amazingly, Tercio had found it within himself to continue forward despite the force that was locking him in place. Heavy footsteps echoed through the throne room as he slowly advanced against magic that would have held any other soldier without fail. Even with her great effort, Tercio would not be stopped. His resistance to magic was far more than she'd feared.

He is dangerous, sister.

Tears began to stream from the corners of his eyes as he grunted and yelled against the force she placed on him.

"Kar...kar'nal..."

Celestia gasped at the sudden realization: Tercio had spoken in the language of the deer. It was stuttering and harsh, but clear all the same.

"Kar'nal d-dwylluun...fon...Equestrii!"

Slaughter the Equestrian.

"Oh, no..."

A split second, a heart beat's lack of focus, was all it took. Straining against the weight of his own armor he pushed forward, swinging a powerful fist at her. Celestia jumped back, tripping over her own dais and breaking the porcelain cup at its side. She stumbled to stay upright, her golden shoes clacking rapidly on the ground.

At the far end of the room, the large doors swung open. Morning Star looked inside, his sword at the ready, having been drawn in by all the commotion. He saw his princess running away from the human, and without thought he took to the air and flew with all his might.

"No!" Celestia shouted, having regained her balance. Morning Star quickly halted in mid-air.

"Princess, you are in danger! I must--"

"Do not interfere! That is an order!"

Bright rays of light filled the room as she brought more of her power to bear, wrapping her long horn in layers of magical energy. Celestia knew she was walking a very fine line -- any more power and she was likely to kill him outright. Still he struggled, blood streaming down from his nose and over his mouth, giving him the look of a crazed predatory animal. There was one final hope, one last solution before she would be forced to render him unconscious.

"Tercio," she said firmly, "foryys aviil naas!"

Cease your attack.

Immediately he stopped struggling, though his breathing remained heavy.

"Tercio?..." Morning Star said quietly as he watched the spectacle unfold before him.

Celestia repeated the phrase, and Tercio fell to his knees. Slowly, but surely, his focus returned. His breathing steadied, the primal violence in his actions ceased. His eyes rolled to the back of his head, and in an instant his body went limp and fell to the floor. Celestia reacted quickly, cushioning his head against the fall with a slight pull of magic.

Stunned, Morning Star flapped over to his comrade's side, landing beside him and cautiously watching him.

"Princess...what did I just--"

"You are not to speak a word of this to anyone," she said quietly but firmly. "Please. For his sake."

Morning Star had heard the rumors of Tercio's outburst. He'd seen Polaris lying in the infirmary in terrible condition. But to see it for himself was something else entirely.

He is dangerous.

"Gods," he said, looking up at Celestia, "what happened here?"