Summervale was not a particularly large community. Nestled between the Swayback mountains to the west and the vast, rolling plains to the east, for decades it had been a quiet farming village that took advantage of the river Avitus that split the area in two. For the last few years it had been rumored to be the center of an economic growth project, but besides a few trade vendors and a smattering of shops nothing much had come of it. For the citizens of Summervale, that was just how they liked it: Away from the noise and bustle of Canterlot, or the battle-training shouts and marching drums of Marestopholous. Some would call it quaint, even boring.

For Tercio Krosus, it was home; familiar and inviting, comfortable in its modest population. For thirty-two years he had lived here, bearing witness to the cold winters and the mild summers that gave the town its namesake. It was a good, honest place to live. And it was the one place where he truly fit in.

"Tercio, darling, it's so good to see you!" Glimmering Grace stood up and wrapped her forelegs around him in a warm hug. She was all smiles.

"Hello, mother. Have you been well?" Tercio planted a kiss on her cheek, glad to see that she was in good health.

"You know me, dear, always fretting about this or that."

He smiled. "Father, I take it?"

"Who else? I swear, that stallion is going to be working the fields until his hooves fall off, mark my words. But you didn't come to listen to me nag, now did you? Please, please, come in!"

Glimmering Grace, a pegasus pony in her late fifties with a light purple coat and greying, two-tone pink mane and striking purple eyes, still had an air of charm and motherly love about her after all these years. Ever since he was but a small child, she and her husband had raised Tercio like he was their own son. Phsyical appearances mattered little; at heart she was a caretaker, and from the moment she laid eyes on the strange "human" child she was struck by him. "Everyone," she'd told her neighbors, "deserves a chance at a decent life."

And so she'd cared for him, different though he was and despite having a young colt near his age already. It hadn't been easy, but as she looked upon him in his gleaming Royal Guard armor she couldn't help but feel like it had all been worth it.

"I'm so glad to see you home once again, Tercio. It feels like it's been quite some time, doesn't it?"

"More than you can know," he replied honestly, seating himself on a small pile of pillows next to the low dining table, one he had towered over since he was a young man. The familiar smells of his mother's cooking filled his lungs, and the old, well-cared-for home still looked exactly like he had left it so long ago. In the mid-day sun one could hardly tell it had been a family home for three generations.

Tercio took a cup of sweet citrus-flavored water as Grace passed it to him, eagerly downing the refreshing, slightly tart drink. After a long day on the road he had worked up a fair thirst.

"Goodness, you seem as if you've not had anything to drink the whole day!"

"It certainly feels like it," he answered with a smile as he took a second cup. He was sure that if he went upstairs he'd find his room exactly as he'd left it when he'd joined the Guard. "I often think about how much I miss this place -- and you and father, of course -- when we're out in the field or training with a local Cohort. Sharing a tent with a large, snoring earth pony isn't a particularly welcome way to spend a week."

Grace laughed softly and took a seat near her son, the flowing length of her sapphire shawl splaying across the floor. "Now you know how I've felt ever since I met your father! Cotton balls tend to help block out the noise, I find."

"I'll keep that in mind. So, how have you been?"

"As well as can be expected when both of your sons are away and your husband is convinced he's struck gold with something or other. You know how he is."

"What is it this time? A miracle crop? A pyrite mine?"

"Hardly," she said with a dismissive hoof wave. "For some ridiculous reason he's latched onto the idea that magically-infused sky wagons are the next big thing."

"This despite the fact that he's, umm..."

"An earth pony? Oh, yes. But don't tell him that. Once he sets his mind on something..."

"Say no more," Tercio chuckled.

"But yes, I've been quite well. I tend to stay home and write, but recently I've been preoccupied with helping Star Sweet's daughter find a proper suitor. You know, the young mare with the yellow mane? Lives down the road from the market?" Tercio nodded. "Well anyway, she's of age now to start looking for a nice stallion. Maybe start a family. She's quite single, you know..."

"Mother, she's fifteen. I'm old enough to be her father. Not to mention I'm not even her species."

"Nonsense, I was married when I was fifteen!"

"To someone three times your age who wanted you as a trophy wife, and left you for an even younger girl just a few years later, remember?"

She scoffed. "You wouldn't understand, Tercio. His family was very high-profile. But...I suppose I was too young to really understand what I was getting into. And his leaving did pave the way for me to meet your father, not to mention yourself, so I shan't complain about where the fates have taken me for even a moment."

"Speaking of which, is father around? I didn't see him on the way in."

"He's in town, dearie. Should be back before nightfall, though. He'll be delighted to see you!"

"The feeling will very much be mutual." He took a long drink of his water and loosened the straps around his ankles, letting out a sigh of relief as his aching soles got the chance to feel some air. "And what of Victus? I have not heard word of him for quite some time."

Glimmering Grace exhaled sharply, a sour look crossing her face. "That would make two of us. Ever since he was accepted into the Legion I've had naught but letters show up at my doorstep for the last six months. It would seem your brother is more concerned with warfare than his own family these days."

The Legion? Now that was interesting. Being accepted into the Equestrian Guard at all is a mark of pride, but the Legion is the best of the best. Last he'd heard, Victus was trying to move up from the Equestrian Guard posting he'd been so bored by, but it was a long process. Could he have achieved his goal in such a short amount of time? If anyone could set his mind to it, it was his brother.

"I'm sure he's just busy, mother. Spirits know I've been busy myself in the Royal Guard."

"At least you find the time to visit," she grumbled. "I swear, that pegasus takes after his father in every way conceivable."

"Maybe so, but at least I'm here for now. Legatus Phalanx granted me leave for a week, and I intend to take full advantage of it."

"A whole week? Well, that is good news!" Grace wrapped her adoptive son in a comforting hug, her spirits once more lifted. "Oh but listen to me, prattling on like some old hag. You must be exhausted from the road."

"Somewhat," he laughed, looking himself over. He was covered in dust and dirt, and his usually gleaming armor was dulled with scrapes and smudges from a long day's march.

"Don't you worry about a thing, sweetie. I'll heat up a bath for you so you can feel like a proper stallion -- err, man -- again. In the mean time, you can leave your bag in your room. You should find it quite familiar." He smiled to himself -- exactly like he'd predicted, alright. "Dinner should be ready in an hour. You still enjoy whipped potatoes and soda bread, I take it? With seasoned carrots? I thought so." Tercio stood up and grabbed his rucksack, slinging it over his shoulder. "Oh, of course, I'd nearly forgotten!"

"Hmm?"

"Princess Luna. Is it true she...she's no longer sitting beside her sister in Canterlot?"

He grimaced, not sure if he should bring up what he'd seen that terrible night. "Yes. Princess Luna and Princess Celestia are no longer co-ruling Equestria. Luna has been...banished, mother."

She gasped. "No! They'd always been so wonderful together! What happened?"

"I'm afraid I'm not privy to such information. No doubt you've seen how the full moon has changed. It's because Luna has been exiled to it."

"Princess Luna was banished to the moon? Oh, dear, how horrible. The poor thing. I do hope it's resolved soon, Equestria just isn't the same without the two of them working together."

He remembered very clearly how Luna-turned-Nightmare-Moon had ended the life of one of his soldiers, and nearly ended his as well. The memory was like a sharp blade in the back of his mind, and he hated that he even had to carry such a thing for the rest of his life. There was no way he could tell his mother, not now. It had only been a scant month, and the wound was still fresh. He could only imagine how Celestia felt.

"We shall see," he answered simply.

Asleep in her chambers, Princess Celestia dreamed the same dream she'd had for so many weeks; a dream of Luna, a dark shadow looming over her, pulling at her strings. The shadow would turn into a great, horrible maw, and just before it consumed the princess she'd wake up with a start. Sleep was not a welcome break, not these days, but at some point her body would simply refuse to function without it.

"Princess! Princess Celestia!" At first she thought she was dreaming, a distant voice calling to her that, for once, wasn't her sister's. Frantic pounding on her doors snapped her out of her sleep, and she groggily made her way to the room's entrance. She had to shield her eyes against the harsh torch light that met her vision as she swung open her door. A young guard stood before her, bowing deeply, but with a look of panic on his face.

"Guardsman? Is something the matter?"

"My most sincere apologies for waking you, Your Highness, but I bring urgent news from Legatus Phalanx! The 44th Legion has been attacked within the borders of Whitetail, seemingly by our own soldiers!"

Her half-asleep mind struggled with the information. The 44th? Why did that sound so familiar?

"I apologize, but I'm afraid I do not immediately--" At once she was hit by a realization; the 44th was the very unit she'd tasked with carrying out a reconnaisance mission to Whitetail.

"Your Highness?"

"Oh, no..."

"Is something wrong?"

She straightened herself, standing up tall and confident as best she could. "What happened? Quickly, tell me everything you know."

"I don't know much, Princess. I was simply sent here to inform you that a member of the Legion patrol in question made it back to his encampment before collapsing. He says he's the only survivor that he knows of, and that they were attacked by ponies wearing Equestrian armor."

Traitors? In the Guard? She hoped the report was wrong. Somehow, it had to be.

"Where is this legionary being held?"

"At the infirmary in Raven's Rock nearly a day's flight from here."

She cursed under her breath, the distance too far to teleport herself. She would have to fly there. "Can you do me a favor, guardsman?"

"Of course, Princess. Anything you ask."

"Return to Legatus Phalanx and inform him that I shall be taking two days' leave, effective immediately. While I am away, he is in charge the day-to-day affairs of the government. I also need you to tell him that my Praetorians are to be awakened and ready to depart within the hour. Did you get all that?"

"Yes, Your Highness. I shall depart immediately to do as you've asked." The guardsman bowed deeply once more and turned smartly on his hooves, then galloped down the hallway with his saddle-mounted torch casting harsh, orange light on the walls and marble floor.

Celestia's mind still groaned and complained from a lack of sleep, but she ignored it -- she would have time to sleep on the way to Raven's Rock. For now, she would have to pack enough things for a short trip. Once she was there, she would speak with this poor legionary and find out everything he knew about what had happened.

And then, she could set out to make things right.

It was a cool morning, the air crisp and clean, as Tercio took in his daily regimen of physical training. A few miles up and back, through the fields of Summervale's vast farms. Several times he stopped and chatted with familiar faces, neighbors and friends he hadn't seen in months or even years. It felt good to be home, if only for a time.

Breakfast followed shortly after, a plate of eggs and vegetables he inhaled much to his mother's bemusement. It wasn't until later in the day that he finally caught sight of his father, Roughshod, returning from town with a small wagon of goods bumping up the road behind him.

"Father! Good to see you've not dropped dead from exertion," he said with a hearty laugh as he approached the old stallion.

"Tercio?" Roughshod blinked several times, his face brightening when he recognized his son. "Well as I live and breathe, it is you!" He wrapped Tercio in a strong embrace and bumped his hoof against Tercio's fist. "For a moment I thought I might be imagining things."

"What, is there another human you're caring for that I've not learned of?"

"Oh, droves of them, I tell you," he chuckled. "Do your old man a favor and help me bring some of this inside, won't you?"

"Of course." Tercio hefted a bag of grains over each shoulder and took his place alongside his father. "Mother was worried something had happened to you. She says you were supposed to come home last night."

"That I was. Had a bit of a problem, though, when a damned rockslide buried the road between Summervale and Bridle Falls in a cubit of stone. Had to wait for it to be cleared out before any travelers could go through."

Despite his age, Roughshod was still as strong an earth pony as Tercio had ever seen. Nearly sixty years of working the fields day in and day out had hardened his frame and strengthened his muscles. Tough and conditioned though Tercio considered himself, even he had to admit that he was outclassed by his adoptive father. The light brown shade of his coat and close-cropped, dark-red mane was faded and greying these days, bleached from decades of exposure to the elements, but he was quite still handsome in a rugged, well-lived sort of way. Tercio could only hope he was in as good a condition when he was older.

"Just set those down near the counter," Roughshod said in a gravelly, slightly strained voice, the result of drastic surgery from his younger years. He and his son unloaded the rest of the cart in a matter of minutes, working up a sweat despite the cool air. "It's times like this I remember I'm not a young buck anymore."

"I don't know, you seem to handle yourself fairly well...for an old man," Tercio answered with a wry smile.

"Old though I may be, I could still take you to the ground if I had to. You've got that high center of mass, and all those gangly limbs. Nowhere near suited for personal combat!"

"Perhaps. I've never believed in picking on the elderly and infirm, so we'll just have to speculate."

Roughsod laughed to himself and jabbed a hoof into Tercio's side. "Come on, you smart ass, and share a drink with your old man. Might want to grab both of the mugs, lest my frail body collapses under the weight."

A pair of silver-etched cups disappeared from the cupboards, along with a pitcher of half-empty amasec wine. Tercio followed his father out to the back patio, an uncovered resting area dotted with numerous chairs and small tables, including one built specifically for his larger frame. It was worn and chipped after years of use, but still as comfortable as he remembered.

"Quite the view, isn't it?" Roughshod asked as a mug was slid his way, the pale, amber-colored amasec sloshing against the sides. "Sometimes I come out here with your mother and just sit and watch the sun rise or set over the mountains." Indeed it was a sight to behold, a vast field of corn, sweet potato, carrot and wheat plants sprouting over an area nearly forty acres in size. The sky was clear and blue without a single cloud in sight. Tercio closed his eyes and enjoyed the breeze flowing in from the mountains, his cup of alcohol grasped in his hands. It was so peaceful up here, a far cry from the shouting decanii or perpetually angry centurions that could be heard over the din of the encampments.

"Welcome back, Tercio," his father said as he raised his cup.

"I'm glad to be back, father." He took a drink of the slightly sweet wine, an aftertaste of honey playing over his tongue before the burn of the alcohol tickled his throat. "If mother knew we were drinking this early in the afternoon she would have our heads."

"No different from any other day, then," Roughshod laughed. "Where is the old hag, anyway?"

"She said she was spending most of the day with Star Sweet. Left just before you arrived, in fact."

"Huh. Guess she wasn't too worried then, eh? Let me guess; she tried setting you up with that young girl."

"Something like that," Tercio replied with a slight smile. "She's convinced I'm getting too old to find a suitable mare, and I need to hurry up and start a family."

"Too old? Shit, you're still a pup. You've got plenty of time to settle down." Roughshod refilled both of their cups before continuing. "Speaking of which...have you, uh...delighted any mares recently?"

Tercio nearly choked on his wine. "Why am I not surprised you'd ask such a thing?"

"What? Don't give me that look. You're out there in the field for months at a time, no use denying the cock the old gods saw fit to give you, right? Hell, I was in your same position myself, a long time ago. I know how the Guard works. Spend some time away from the mares, get a little leave, find the nearest working girl..."

"I must admit this is making me rather uncomfortable." Tercio emptied his cup in one, long chug and poured himself another. If his father kept his line of questioning up, he was going to need a lot more amasec to get the images out of his head.

"Just answer the question before I die of old age, would you?"

Tercio let out a deep sigh. "Fine, fine. I...suppose I may have had romantic encounters with the fairer sex. Occasionally."

"Oh, so you did fuck somepony, huh? That's my boy!" Roughshod laughed out loud, probably a little louder than he'd intended thanks to the amasec. "I imagine you don't have much trouble connecting your bits with their bits, eh? It all works the same in the end!" Tercio's face flushed bright red, which only served to make his father laugh even louder, pounding his hoof on the table. "Look at you, like an embarrassed teenager! You're in your thirties now, there's no need for that!"

"For the record," Tercio quickly added, "they weren't whores. Just a couple of very nice mares who, uh, happened to be very interested in making love to someone of my...unique stature."

"Oh, Tercio, Tercio," his father chuckled, "fucking by any other name is still fucking. But hey, it's good to see you're still able to live a semi-normal existence in such a regard."

"So, uh, the Royal Guard is a good place, I've found," Tercio eagerly changed the subject, hoping his father would take the bait. "It's certainly a step above the rank-and-file of the Equestrian Guard."

"Mmm, that's what I hear. Was never in the service long enough to apply, myself, but I'd be lying if I said I hadn't thought about it several times. And now my own son is serving with them. Heh, who woulda thought, right? They give you that fancy-ass armor?"

"Indeed so. I have it stored in a trunk upstairs if you'd like to take a look."

"I would, in fact. But that can wait." Roughshod adjusted his position in his seat, grunting as he struggled to find a comfortable spot. "Come, delight your dear old father with your tales of bravery and daring. Surely you have some."

"Not quite so much as you'd think," Tercio replied with a shrug. "Life in the Royal Guard is really not all that interesting. We may be Canterlot's personal defense force, but most of the time we're simply guarding doors or filling out paperwork or some-such mundane task. On the bright side, gold-trimmed armor looks nice when you're sitting on your ass for ten hours a day."

"Sounds familiar! Military life is a whole lot of 'hurry up and wait'. Some things never change, I suppose."

Tercio idly rubbed his cup as the memory of Celestia's fight with her sister played through his mind once more. "There is one thing..."

"Oh?"

"Well...you know Luna's been banished, I take it?"

His father nodded. "I've heard rumors, and seen the full moon. It's true, then?"

"I'm afraid so. I...I was there when it happened, father." Roughshod sat up in his seat, for once not sure what to say. "It was very late in the evening, or rather, very early in the morning, when the Legatus woke me up and said the palace was under attack. I didn't have time to do much but grab my arms, and I took a few guardsmen with me. When we arrived in the gardens there was this frantic, mid-air battle happening between the sisters. Princess Luna, she didn't look the same. There was something...off...about her. She called herself 'Nightmare Moon'."

"You don't say. To think one such as her could fall so far..."

"One of my compatriots -- Strata, was his name -- was killed by a blast of energy, not even two meters from me. He was no small stallion, but when that dark magic struck him he simply....exploded. I was covered in his gore from head to toe."

"Gods, I had no idea! Was it really that bad?" His son simply nodded. "I'm sorry to hear about...Strata, was it? It's always a shame when a good soldier has to die for no damned reason."

"I know," Tercio said quietly.

"You haven't told your mother about this, have you?"

"No," he shook his head, "such a thing would only serve to worry her for my safety more than she already does."

"Good, you should probably keep it that way. And don't worry, I won't say anything."

Tercio grabbed the pitcher and refilled his cup once again. "It's well that I'm not going anywhere for the rest of the day. Perhaps if I down enough amasec I'll be able to sleep tonight..."

"Your Majesty, welcome to our humble encampment." The legionary bowed before his ruler as she stepped off from the sky carriage. The outpost was sparsely populated; Celestia estimated there to be less than a hundred legionaries, judging by the small tents dotting the landscape. A series of small fires wafted smoke and the smell of cooked food through the clearing, and everywhere she looked there were armored ponies going about their appointed rounds.

"Thank you, legionary," Celestia said in return, slightly bowing her head. "Did your commanding officers make you aware of the reason for my arrival?"

He nodded. "Yes, Princess. I was told you were coming to speak with the wounded Swift Strike." Somehow, she had been hoping that the attack was just a rumor, but it was not to be.

"So it's true, then. Your unit was attacked."

"Yes, Princess, I'm afraid so. Swift Strike was the only one to make it back. He's resting in the infirmary, under the care of apothecary Tender Care. Shall I take you to him?"

"He's well enough to speak? You're sure? Very well, then."

"As you wish. Follow me, Your Highness."

The legionary led her through a crowd of soldiers covered in gleaming steel and iron armor, all of whom bowed as she approached. She smiled and greeted them, just as she always had. A pair of white pegasus royal guards at her side glowered at the legionaries, their interservice rivalry the worst-kept secret in the Equestrian military.

"Just through here, Princess." She ducked her head to enter the large tent, her sense of smell immediately overwhelmed by surgical liquids and potent potions. A series of cots lined the tent, and at the far end was the only one currently occupied. A dark orange earth pony with a shaved mane and close-cut brown tail lay curled up in a ball with a large blanket wrapped around his torso. The apothecary greeted her as she entered, a stocky pony wearing a blood-stained smock and a side pouch with surgical instruments.

"Your Highness," he nodded.

"Hello, Tender Care. How have you been?"

"I've seen better days," he admitted, pointing to the injured legionary across the room. "Swift Strike is well enough to speak, but he is still weak and his wounds are prone to reopening."

She frowned at the poor soldier's condition. "Is he going to be alright?"

"Yes, I believe so. Our best salves and potions are doing their work, but he's going to be bed-ridden for at least another few weeks. Were you looking to conversate with him?"

"I was hoping to, yes. But if he's not well enough..."

"As I said, he'll live. I'd advise patience, but I'm sure you have much more experience with such things than I do."

"I should imagine so," she answered with a slight smile. She turned to her pegasus guards. "You may wait outside, I assure you I am in no danger here." The guards nodded and exited through the flap, and she slowly approached the wounded pony. She could hear his breaths coming out slightly ragged and wet. For a time she said nothing, sitting alongside him and watching him sleep. He twitched and tossed from what she could only imagine was a bad dream, a memory of what he'd been through. Gently, she placed a hoof on his side and closed her eyes, focusing her mind on his.

It's going to be okay. Calm yourself, Swift Strike.

The legionary's shivering slowly came to a stop, his breathing becoming regular and steady, though still ragged. After a moment he slowly opened his eyes and looked around, surprised by the sight of the princess seated beside him.

"...Princess Celestia? Is it really you?"

"Indeed it is," she answered softly and with a comforting smile. "I hope I am not bothering you. The apothecary says you're not feeling well."

"Bothering me? No, no, of course not!" He attempted to sit up in his cot, only to have a sharp stab travel down his side. He grunted in pain and grabbed for his bandaged wound.

"Easy, easy," she told him, helping him lie back down. "Save your strength."

"I'm sorry, Princess, I was not expecting a visit. I must look a mess..."

"You're alive, that's all that matters," she reassured him, pulling the blanket up over his chest.

"Yeah...the only one who's alive." He chewed his lip and looked up at her. "I suppose that's why you're here, isn't it? To get my account of what happened?"

"And to make sure you're alright, of course. I know it is a lot to ask of you, Swift Strike, but if there's anything you can tell me -- anything at all -- that might help bring whoever did this to justice, then I would hear what you have to say."

"O-Of course, Your Highness. Please, excuse me for one moment." The wounded pony grabbed a flask of water at his side, taking long, thirsty gulps. He fumbled with the cap, feeling self-conscious at looking foolish in front of the princess he'd only ever seen from a distance. "Where would you like me to begin?"

"As far back as you can manage, please. You were on a patrol, correct?"

He nodded, wincing at the pain in his side. "Yes. Decanus Silver Oak hadn't said much ahead of time, only that he needed seven others to join him on a mission from the princess --- uh, you -- herself. Yourself. Sorry..."

"It's alright," she smiled. "Please, continue."

"From what we understood, we were to lead a scouting party into Whitetail and observe any troop movements or formations that may have been gathering in River Run. I volunteered and we set out about half an hour later. Marched for quite some time, but eventually we made it into Whitetail." He paused before continuing. "Princess Celestia, I had always been under the assumption that Whitetail is a neutral territory."

"It is," she answered, "but I had reason to believe it was in danger. That's why I asked Silver Oak to lead a small patrol out that way. It wasn't exactly...legal, in the strictest sense of the word, but sometimes such things are unavoidable. I thought if your patrol could find something of importance I could act upon it and speak with the Chancellor of Whitetail."

"I see..." He took another drink from his flask. "It was a few hours after sunset on the second day when we encountered what appeared to be a small force of Equestrian Guard."

Celestia's mind raced with the possibilities. Had one of the local units gone rogue? She tried to keep a decent grasp on where her military was stationed but the smaller Centuries could be overlooked...

"You're absolutely sure of this, Swift Strike? You can say with one-hundred percent certainty that they were in Equestrian Guard armor?"

"Yes, Princess, absolutely. I'd know it anywhere -- I wore it for eight years. Except..."

"Except what?"

"Except...I don't know, something about them just felt wrong, even before Decanus Silver Oak spoke to them. They weren't in a standard marching formation, or even a defensive formation in the event that they were expecting to encounter trouble. They were just...there. And when they came closer, we noticed they were covered in blood!"

"Did they carry any kind of insignia or banner? Perhaps something that would denote their unit?"

"No," he answered with a shake of his head, "nothing like that."

"I see. And then what happened?"

"The guardsman that our decanus was talking to stuck a blade in his side. Silver Oak reacted quickly and dispatched the traitorous scum, but we immediately came under attack from the others; perhaps a dozen. We adopted a shield wall formation and began to advance on them, taking out a few with our pila, and then broke into a galloping advance that broke their line." He laughed bitterly. "The bastards didn't know what hit 'em. Got this nice little gash here," he pointed to a bloodied bandage, "during the attack. Had an arrow lodge itself into the flesh of my left foreleg, too. We took down the majority but a few of them turned and attempted to run. We gave chase, only to find ourselves drawn into a line of waiting archers that a immediately took out several of our own number." Swift Strike pounded a hoof into the cot. "We should have seen it coming! It was stupid and amateur of us to fall for such an obvious ploy. But I think we were too incensed by the thought of being attacked by our own to notice."

Celestia remained quiet, making a mental note of everything she'd heard so far. The wounded pony's voice began to break, his jaw trembling and small tears welling up in the corners of his eyes.

"Ceraunius, he was our designated vexillarius for the patrol. He fought so hard, but the poor, young stallion was slaughtered like a forest beast by those traitorous guards..."

"I'm sorry," the princess said quietly, resting a hoof on his foreleg. "If I'd known you would run into such danger I would have never sent you out there."

In spite of his condition, he smiled weakly. "We're the Legion, Princess. Danger is what we do."

"So you were ambushed from the side, you said? How did you escape?"

"Decanus Silver Oak had us in a circular wall formation, but the volume of projectiles was too much for us. Far too much. He said we were to make one last charge, straight into the line of archers set up in the forest. Once we broke through we were to make all speed back here, to the encampment. I...I was the only one who made it. The others fell to arrow volleys or blades." He set his jaw and narrowed his eyes. "We made them pay for every life, though. You can be damn well sure of that."

"I commend you -- and your entire patrol -- for being so brave. I can't imagine what it must be like for you." Of course she could. She'd comforted so many wounded and dying during her lifetime that she'd nearly seen it all, and it never got any easier to see. But traitors? That was something entirely different. Never in the history of Equestria had they suffered an attack by their own forces. It only served to strengthen her resolve. "Swift Strike, the guards you encountered -- you said they were covered in blood. From what, exactly?"

He shrugged. "I don't know. It was already dry, so it had to have been at least several hours old." Several horrible possibilities came to mind, and they nearly stole the breath from her lungs. "We aren't missing any other legionaries, are we? Possibly to further attacks?"

"Not that we're aware of, no."

"Well, at least that's one bit of good news," he said with a deep sigh. "Princess, you have to find out who was responsible for this. I can't let my battle brothers die for nothing!"

Celestia placed a hoof on his chest and looked him in the eyes. "I promise you, Swift Strike, I will find them. There is nowhere they can go to escape Equestrian justice. Now," she said calmingly, touching her long horn to his head, "get some rest. I am here for you, and all your brothers in arms." There was a soft, yellow glow as she gently lulled the wounded legionary into a deep sleep, his eyelids becoming heavy and his mind cleared of all worry, at least for a time.

And thank you. Your words will save lives.

As quietly as she could she stood up and returned to the apothecary, asking him to do his best. He bowed and said he would, and once again she was back outside where her waiting guards immediately flanked her. She was half way to her sky carriage when a young legionary came rushing up to her, skidding to a halt as a pair of swords were thrust in his direction to keep him away. Celestia signaled her guards, and the swords returned to their sides.

"Is there something wrong, legionary?"

"Princess, I was told to bring word to you. It's the chancellor of Whitetail -- he's here, at this encampment!"

She lifted a hoof in surprise. "The chancellor? I had not received any such notice. Are you sure?"

"He sent me himself. He wants to speak with you. Immediately." He took a half-step forward and added, "and he is very upset."