Summervale was a full day's walk to Canterlot under the best of conditions. The dusty road traveled through Splitrock, then up to the hilltop town of Ashberry, before winding its way up through the rocky passes that led into the magnificent, hanging capital city. Knowing the march that awaited them, Tercio and his adoptive brother Victus began their trek shortly after the latter had flown in with news that shook them to the very core -- war had come to Equestria. Victus didn't have many details, but the knowledge that his home had been invaded by an outside force was enough to spur Tercio into action.

Sadly, that meant a sudden departure from their mother and father. Roughshod had understood and wished them both the best, but when their mother, Glimmering Grace, heard the word "war" she could hardly keep from crying for the entirety of the farewell. Tercio had felt horrible to leave his loving parents in such a state, but Victus had urged their immediate departure.

They were lucky to catch a wagon headed in the direction they were going, and after a short chat the old stallion pulling it had agreed to haul Victus and his strange-looking brother along, at least until Splitrock. From there, he had explained, they would have to travel the roads themselves.

Tercio looked to the sky, figuring it to be mid-afternoon by the sun's position. With luck they would be in Canterlot just after nightfall. He could only imagine what the capital was like at that very moment; likely it was a mess of forming military units, frantic intelligence gathering, and concerned citizens. Still, despite the troubles that surely lie ahead, he was glad to be beside his brother for the first time in many months.

"What do you make of it?"

Victus' voice took his attention away from the skies, where formations of pegasi were flying to some unknown destination.

"Hmm? Make of what?"

"This war, Tercio."

He shrugged. "I don't know. I've heard naught but rumors from neighbors and passing ponies thus far. It appears to be the deer in one form or another, but beyond that? I couldn't say. I don't suppose you know anything?"

"Only what I've heard. The deer have invaded from the south-eastern border of Whitetail. I don't believe they've encountered any towns just yet, but every moment they march onward is another moment for them to ransack some poor bastard's home. Or family."

"But why the deer? Up until this point they've shown no sign of aggression that I'm aware of."

"I don't know, but I would wager we'll find out upon returning to Canterlot."

"I wager we will." Tercio reached into the sack lying next to him, his armor clattering with the motion of the road. "Care for an apple?"

"Couldn't hurt."

A quick swipe of his gladius, and each brother took their half. They ate in silence for a moment, each lost in his own thoughts. Tercio spoke up as he tossed his core away.

"Mother misses you, you know. She worries you've forgotten her and father."

"I know, I know. I miss them, too. And you as well. But surely they understand that the Legion keeps me busy. Father, of all ponies, should realize that. And besides," he tossed the remains of his apple to the ground, "I do make an effort to write them when I can."

"You needn't convince me, brother. I just worry for mother's sake. She's...she's getting old. I fear she will not be around for too many more years."

"Do not speak of such things," Victus snapped, pointing a hoof. "Mother is in good health, and father is still strong and fit for his age. I will not hear otherwise."

"Sorry," Tercio said apologetically. "I meant no harm, it's just..." He searched for the words, chewing his lip. "We're soldiers, Victus. Soldiers who now find themselves at war, and in different branches: you in the Legion, and I in the Royal Guard. Tomorrow we will likely be returned to our units, and if we don't see each other or our parents again..."

"We will," Victus said with confidence, putting a foreleg on Tercio's back. "Trust in the old gods and the princess to see us through, and when this mess sorts itself we will drown ourselves in wine and mares."

Tercio chuckled at his brother's attitude, the same confidence and bravado he'd carried since they were children.

"You sound very sure of yourself."

"Of course, I'm in the Legion! No amount of tree-rutting deer could possibly hope to stop the 44th. Not to mention we still have to hunt down those bastards who betrayed us. You and your soft-skinned companions in the Royal Guard, however...well, I'm sure if the deer ever need someone to pretty-up their pricks, you'd be perfect for the job!"

"Fuck you, you ass," Tercio laughed. "The Legion may be well and fine, but when you need the real soldiers to save your asses, you know where to find us!"

"Yes, licking the princess' royal shoes!"

They laughed together for the first time in what felt like ages, and in that moment Tercio realized that he may never share a moment like this with his sibling again. He hoped he was wrong, and they would spend many hours reminiscing about their childhood together once the deer surrendered. And they would surrender, he was sure of it. It was only a matter of time, and lives to be lost.

"It's good to speak with you again, Victus. It's been a long time." Tercio slapped a hand on his brother's armored shoulder and smiled.

"Aye, that it has. I thought we might catch up on our trip back to Canterlot. That's why I haven't simply taken off and flown back. Not that you would know about flying, you poor bastard."

"You can keep your wings, brother, I'm quite happy with these." He wiggled his fingers with a smirk. "And so are the mares, or so they tell me."

Victus scoffed and waved a dismissive hoof. "Please, you should know by now that a whore will say anything you like so long as you pay her for it."

"You'd know all about whores, wouldn't you?"

"You're damn right I would! In fact, next time you're in Marestopholous, there's this gorgeous young pegasus I should introduce you to. She is very much worth the coin for her services rendered."

"I'll keep that in mind," Tercio chuckled. "In the mean time, I may have brought a small barrel of ale with me. Nothing much, just a few cups worth, but if you're interested in sharing a drink with your tall, ugly brother..."

"Ale, eh? I knew there was a reason I still put up with you." Tercio pulled a pair of cups from his bag and uncorked the quart-sized barrel, concentrating intently to keep the bumpy road from spilling a precious drop. "While we're at it, you're going to have to tell me about those mares you spoke of. Be warned, however, that I may have to call you out if I believe something to be far too outlandish even for you."

"Duly noted." Tercio held up his cup in a toast. "To mother and father, Equestria, and the best damn sibling I could ask for. Even if he is a massive pain in the ass."

Victus smiled and raised his hooves.

"I'll drink to that, brother."

In the far-off reaches of Whitetail Woods, a lone earth pony stepped into a large tent, one of many that had been set up in an informal encampment, covered with tree limbs branches and pine boughs to conceal it from prying pegasus eyes. The dark of night and the chill wind sent a shiver down Libertus' spine, not from fear or cold, but from excitement and anticipation. The chancellor of Whitetail had been eliminated, struck down by an assassin's blade, just as She had said it would be. How he wished he could have seen the faces that day as the pathetic deer was stuck like an unruly creature of the forest. He smiled with the knowledge that he had chosen well his path in life, away from the corruption and inaction of Equestria, away from the shouted insults and gazes of mockery that met him whenever he announced his devotion to his Dark Queen.

"Traitor," they'd called him. "Extremist. Cultist." It mattered not, for he knew within the very pit of his soul that his was the true way. He did have to thank the Equestrian military for one thing, though: his training. Three years of service had given him the skills necessary to join other like-minded followers, many of them still choosing to wear their Equestrian Guard armor in battle, or during the spilling of blood. They wore their gore-stained steel and iron as a badge of pride, a sign of true devotion to Her way of life and beyond. So it had been when they'd slaughtered the opulent, pathetic deer of River Run, and so it had been when they'd ended the slave-like service of the Legion patrol. The legionaries should have thanked him and his brothers for freeing them from such demeaning servitude, but they would meet the Dark Queen in the afterlife, and there she would show them the truth of their after-existence.

Libertus. Freed from slavery. It was a good name, a meaningful name he was proud to call his own. He embraced his new life, just like his comrades, and here he felt more at home than he'd ever felt in Equestria.

Deep inside the tent, a small shrine had been set up to Her glory: burning candles, offerings of severed antlers and Legion armor clasps still caked with blood. Libertus stood before it in awe, finding comfort in the flickering light cast upon the walls. Then, with a great sense of excitement, he reached out and grasped the necklace charm from its pedestal, an ancient symbol of a deer and a pony in the style of the wondrous Pisces constellation. In ages long past, it had meant peace and cooperation between the species -- though Libertus viewed it as weakness and contentedness. Now, with the help of his Queen, it would mean war and aggression. Equestria and Whitetail would burn, and the world would be cleansed for it.

"My eternal ruler," Libertus spoke softly, closing his eyes and focusing on the charm between his hooves, "my Dark Queen, I call to you on this night. I beg of you: come forth and grace me with your glory, that I may be the instrument of your will." Seconds passed. Long seconds. Had he done the summoning improperly? Had She forgotten about him? His fears were assuaged as a voice spoke to him from behind, a strong, powerful voice.

"Libertus."

"My Queen, you honor me with your presence." He averted his eyes to the floor and bowed on his knees.

"Rise, my servant, and gaze upon me." Libertus stood as he'd been told, once more coming face-to-face with the swirling, smokey visage of the winged unicorn. She towered over him, her form at once ethereal and perceptible only on the edges of his vision, like a storm cloud made of shadows and mist.

"I...I am not worthy of such respect, my Queen!"

"Shhhhh," the shadowy form whispered, "you are worthy of so much more, Libertus. You and your comrades, your brothers in battle. Tell me, what news do you bring?"

"My Queen, I bring word of war. Chancellor Artellus, the smug, self-assured leader of the Whitetail, has been slain by one of our own. The assassin perished in the attack, but accomplished his mission."

"Then he will be remembered for all time, and his soul will join the Great Calling, just as yours will one day soon."

"It is all I can ask for, my Queen."

"And what of Whitetail?"

"The senate was gathered to welcome back Artellus from his trip to Equestria. They witnessed the murder of the deer chancellor by the blade of an Equestrian. I saw the shock in their eyes myself. After the slaughter of River Run, it was the last push the meek nation needed. Within hours the senate had declared war on Equestria, and the armies of the deerfolk already march across her borders. It is only a matter of time until the bloodshed truly begins."

"Good. This is excellent news, Libertus. Already I can sense the chaos, the uncertainty. The citizens of Whitetail are thirsty for the blood of Equestrians. Has Senator Vinawyll taken control of the nation, as was expected?"

"I believe so, Your Eternal Grace. Vinawyll is a coward who will bow to the senate without question. He is merely a puppet, a figurehead."

"Then he will be of no real consequence." The shadowy figure stood silent for a moment, only the sound of her swirling form filling the tent. "You have served me well, Libertus. In the coming days I will have one, last favor to ask of you. I leave it to you and your brothers to prepare as necessary. When the time comes, I will call on you. You will not fail me."

"Of course, my Queen. I will do whatever you ask." For a fraction of a second, Libertus swore he could see a predatory, sharp-toothed grin, and in that moment he found himself both terrified and elated. He would succeed, and he would join Her in eternal glory and sit beside Her on the throne of darkness, or he would fail and his soul would be tormented for a thousand generations.

"Think on my words. Embrace them, as I have embraced you. And when I am ready...we will strike."

The shadowy figure faded from view, becoming a cloud of shimmering vapor that scattered with the breeze. Libertus set the charm back on its pedestal, bowing his head at having had the honor of speaking with Her once more.

"I am yours to command," he whispered solemnly, "my eternal Nightmare Moon."

"Legatus Phalanx, Decanus Tercio Krosus and Decanus Victus Krosus reporting for duty."

Tercio and Victus came to attention and snapped out sharp salutes, placing a hand or a hoof over the center of their chests with their helmets tucked into their left sides. Night had already begun to fall on Canterlot, and the barracks was a hive of bustling activity -- commanders carrying out their tasks, guardsmen checking their gear and packing away supplies for their deployments, orderlies and aides carrying the word of the princess.

"Welcome back, Tercio," their commanding officer said, not looking up from his mound of paperwork. "I trust you enjoyed your time away?"

"Yes, sir, I did."

"Good. A little break now and then does wonders for the body and mind." Phalanx lifted his head slightly and peered at the pegasus before him with his one good eye. "Who the blazes are you?"

"Victus Krosus, my Legatus," the other answered smartly. "Decanus of the 44th Legion and brother to Tercio."

"The 44th, huh? Poor bastards. I heard about what happened to that patrol. My condolences, legionary."

"Thank you, sir. They were good stallions to the last."

"So I would imagine." Phalanx looked over the two soldiers standing before him, so completely different from one another. "You two're brothers?"

"Yes, sir," Tercio answered. "Victus is my adoptive brother, but I care for him as my own blood, and he for me."

"Hmm. Didn't expect him to be a pegasus," Phalanx mumbled, turning his attention back to the scrolls stacked on his desk. Victus shot a look at his brother, but Tercio simply shrugged -- Phalanx was one of the literal and proverbial old guard, wary and suspicious of non-earth ponies. It was a sentiment that had slowly begun to die out in the Equestrian military, but pegasi and unicorns were still typically assigned to their own squads within their associated units.

"...we were awaiting orders, sir?"

"Huh? Oh, right." The old, battle-scarred pony flipped through the rolled-out scrolls, holding them up to the right side of his face, his left eye covered by a white patch that wrapped around his head. "Vanarius, Valor, Vertigo...ah, here. Victus. 44th Legion. Says here you're to return to your unit as it's currently positioned, along the eastern border of Whitetail. They've had to fall back a ways once the deer advance began, but as far as I know they haven't entered any combat just yet. If you fly north-west to Timber Falls and then west toward the border you should run into the 44th after a few hours time. No doubt they'll be expecting your return."

"Yes, Legatus."

"Understood? Good. You're dismissed, Decanus Victus. Find a bunk for the night. You can depart in the morning." Victus gave a smart salute and turned to leave, quietly telling his brother to find him whenever he had the chance. "As for you, Decanus Tercio Krosus, there is something we need to discuss."

Tercio felt a lump rise to his throat. The only time the Legatus had to "talk" with anyone was when they were about to face a world of shit. He wondered what he'd done, and how bad the punishment would be.

"I'm not going to lie to you, the situation with the deer is fucked," Phalanx admitted. "Our forces are scattered throughout the land and things have escalated so quickly we haven't had sufficient time to reinforce the border with Whitetail."

"Have we had any battles with them yet, sir?"

"Only small skirmishes. Neither side seems committed to a large attack just yet. Old gods know we can't take them head-on just yet. The deer are many things but they are not stupid. They'll gather their forces and push when they believe victory is assured, and my gut tells me that'll be sooner rather than later. I'm guessing Artellus didn't get the chance to talk some sense into them..."

"So is it true? The chancellor has been assassinated?"

"Bloody fucking mess that is," the old stallion grumbled. "He was struck down by a pony carrying an Equestrian blade. No identifying armor or tags of any sort, so whoever he was he likely realized it was a one-way trip. You ask me, I think it's the same cocksuckers who tore into the Legion patrol and wiped out River Run. This carries their mark, without a doubt."

"The same? So the ones who attacked us were not guardsmen after all?"

"Hard to say, but if I had to place coin on it I'd say they were pretending to be Equestrian Guard just to start this damn war. They knew what they were doing, this wasn't some random attack by traitors." He laughed bitterly. "Too bad such a realization is completely in hindsight."

"What of Whitetail, sir? Surely they should know of such a thing."

"They should, but they won't listen. First they lose a few hundred of their citizens, then their chancellor bleeds out on the steps of the senate building. There is nothing in this world that is going to convince them that we're not at fault here. As such, we're going to need all the leadership we can get out there. The princess has decided to send me to take command of both the Legion and Guard forces situated due west."

"I see, sir. Congratulations."

"Don't you congratulate me, Tercio. I've overseen the elimination of bandit camps and criminal organizations, but all-out war is just as new for me as it is for you. I had hoped to never step foot onto a battlefield for the rest of my old, crotchety life, but I am a servant of Equestria first and foremost. If Her Highness requests my aid, she shall have it again. Even if her sister isn't around to talk sense into her."

"Uh, yes, sir."

"Right. In my stead, I will be promoting Centurion Cestus to Canterlot overseeing duties. He'll be Legatus Cestus now. He's already been made aware of this, so you can spare him the platitudes."

Tercio was somewhat surprised -- Cestus had always been a good friend and a loyal soldier, but as a Centurion he wasn't in his element. He'd often spoken of longing for the days of the rank of Decanus, where he only had to care for perhaps a dozen soldiers at most. Now he was being placed in command of thousands of Royal Guard.

"So...that just leaves you, human."

"Sir?"

"Effective immediately, you are hereby promoted to the rank of Centurion, and your position within the 23rd Royal Guard will subsequently be given to an underling." Tercio gasped in surprise, a promotion the last thing he'd expected. "As of now, you are with the 105th Royal Guard. Technically that makes Cestus your immediate C.O., though the two of you will likely not have need of butting heads. I imagine his duties will keep him away from the palace for quite some time. He is still 'sir' to you, for the sake of formality, but you're under the orders of the princess before anything else."

"Sir, if I may... the 105th is--"

"Princess Celestia's personal palace guard, yes. You are now a Praetorian, rank Centurion. Is there a problem with that?"

A Centurion and a Praetorian? All at once?

"No, sir, not at all. I was simply not expecting such an honor."

"Well I wasn't expecting to be sent to out to fight a bunch of tree-rutting deer today, either, but shit happens...Centurion." Tercio remained silent, but he could feel Phalanx's gaze upon him. "You can just say it, Tercio. You're wondering why you're being given this position."

"That I am, Legatus."

"It's not 'Legatus' for long. Going to be 'General' soon. But yes, you were chosen for the 105th after much deliberation with both the princess and the other officers of the Royal Guard. You may be ugly as sin -- what with those lanky arms and tall frame of yours -- and stubborn as a damned mule, but you consistently out-perform the other guards in combat drills and tactical exercises. I don't know if you're actually decent at what you do, or if you're just damned lucky, or both, but you've impressed enough of the Royal Guard to warrant a promotion. I suggest you accept it."

"I will, sir. Thank you, I'm honored."

Phalanx grunted. "Mmm. You'd better be. And you'd better be on alert at all times; now that we're at war, the princess is a prime target for assassination. You must tend to her as she asks, and trust no one you couldn't personally vouch for. Not the citizens of Equestria, not even your former fellow guardsmen. Understood?"

"Understood, sir."

"Good. In the morning you will report to Princess Celestia personally. You'll have your standing orders from there. For now, you're dismissed. I suggest you wash up and make yourself presentable for the princess. And for the love of all things decent, clean that damn armor. You look like you've been rolling around with the pigs all day."

Tercio stood at attention and saluted. "I won't let you down, Legatus."

"I know you won't, otherwise I'd have to kick your ass, and I don't care how big and ugly you are." Tercio could have sworn he saw Phalanx crack the tiniest hint of a grin, but it was gone in a blink. "Dismissed, Centurion."

Tercio saluted quickly and set out to locate Victus to pass along the good news. Just wait until he hears about this, he thought with an amused smile, technically he has to call me 'sir' now...

He couldn't wait to see the reaction on his brother's face.

Morning. It had come far too quickly, and with far too much sunlight. Tercio groaned at the rays of light that seemed impossibly bright in his eyes, especially after he and Victus had spent several hours at a local tavern celebrating his new promotion. He had no idea what time it was when he snuck back into the barracks, but he did know what time it was now: too damned early. He rubbed his tired eyes, noticing that he was one of the few soldiers still left. A guard opposite his bunk was busy strapping on his gear. Tercio called out to him.

"Guardsman, have you an idea of the time?"

The guard looked up from his partially-assembled outfit, lifting an eyebrow.

"It is early morning. Do not worry, the sun is still low in the sky. Whatever appointment you're to keep, I doubt you've missed it just yet." He added, "by the way, it's Guardsman Balteus"

Tercio let out a relieved breath. "Ah, of course. Thank you, Balteus, that's what I was hoping."

With his mind at ease -- if still swimming from last night's celebration -- he began the complex task of properly assembling his clothing and armor for the day.

He started with his basic, light-brown tunic, a mostly-decorative pteruges skirt made of detailed sections of leather and fabric, and a scarf to protect his neck from chafing. The tunic was simple, but comfortable, with reinforced shoulders to keep the edges of the armor from biting into his skin. Next came his sword belt, made of leather and covered in small pouches for extra storage space. His sharpened blade slid into the sheathe with a satisfying scraping of material. Then came the caliga, his sandal-like marching boots that wrapped up halfway to his knees. They were comfortable enough, but on long marches they chafed the sides of his feet.

After that, the real work began: First his chainmail shirt, then his manica and greaves; arm and leg guards, made of flexible but sturdy lengths of shaped iron with leather backings and held in place by straps and buckles. After so many years he'd become used to the weight, the feel of the armor tugging on his upper arms and lower legs. It was a comforting feeling now, one that meant protection and familiarity.

The bulk of the armor protection, of course, came from his Lorica Segmentata, a strong, sturdy armor piece that covered his torso from collar to waist, made of strips of leather-backed steel and iron joined together so that no weak point remained, no place where a sword could pierce. The chest plate had been moulded to show an idealized version of his physique -- one that he grumbled about every time he put it on, knowing full-well he'd likely never actually look like that. The edges of the armor were decorated with golden inlays, a gift from his joining of the Royal Guard several years ago, and if nothing else it at least looked impressive.

Also cosmetic was a cloak that was held together by a clasp over the collar of his armor. It hung down over his back, a dark gold in color to signify the Royal Guard, and stopped at the back of his knee. More than anything else, the cloak -- technically a sagum -- represented status, providing a quick way for the lower ranks to identify their superiors. Tercio's was relatively simple, just a length of fabric, but more prestigious cloaks were often decorated with designs of golden thread, stylized wheat stalks, or ancient Equestrian symbols for power, mercy, or whatever the soldier in question was known for.

Lastly, but just as important as the segmented armor, was his galea -- his helmet. A mostly-standard Equestrian helm, complete with ear and nose segments, though modified for his anatomy. A crest of red, dyed pony hair ran from the front of the helm to the back, an easy way for his soldiers to identify him in the midst of battle...or for the enemy to do the same, should he be unfortunate. He still fondly remembered the day he received his helm; he was the butt of jokes for the entire week, as most soldiers his rank or higher simply let their manes stick up through a hole in the top of their helmet. You could always tell a devoted Guard officer or NCO by the strip of red they'd have along the upper portion of their manes. They considered it a badge of honor. Personally, Tercio was happy to keep his own dark hair short and stick with a fake crest.

"Krosus!" Tercio jumped at the sudden outburst from the doorway, hastily standing at attention. A large, well-built stallion was standing there in full regalia, with a trio of golden bars in the middle of a horse shoe denoting his rank of Imperator.

"Sir!"

"I trust you're aware of your introductory meeting within the hour?"

"Yes, Imperator. I was just finishing up my armor, sir."

"Good. I suggest you do not keep the princess or your new friends in the 105th waiting. You're a Praetorian now, you'd damn well better act like it."

"I won't let you down, sir."

"See to it that you don't. The 105th is my unit, and in my unit we run a very tight schedule."

"Of course, sir."

Without another word, the Imperator turned and left. Tercio waited until he was down the hall to break his stance.

"Hard ass..."

A laughing Balteus trotted past, tossing his sword onto his back.

"I see you met Imperator Stonewall."

"Yeah. He's gonna be my new commander, it seems."

"You poor bastard." The pony guard called out over his shoulder. "Better you than me!"

It almost didn't feel real. After two years of service in the Royal Guard, Tercio was finally going to meet the princess herself. Up until now he'd only ever seen her from afar; "The Royal Guard" was more like "The Canterlot Guard" when all was said and done. Ponies had always asked him what Princess Celestia was like, and he'd always have to tell them the same thing: He had no idea. The Praetorians? They were the real deal, directly responsible for the protection of Equestria's now-sole ruling princess.

Security was certainly tough -- between the common barracks and the palace doors there had been six different guard stations. He'd considered just walking with his identification out at all times, for whatever good it would do. At last he'd arrived at his destination: The end of a long hallway covered in stained glass frescoes, with a large pair of intricately decorated doors that towered over his form in an arched, flowing curve. A pair of Praetorians in golden armor stood watch, spears held firmly against their bodies. Interestingly, he noted, they were both pegasi -- something of a rarity in the normal Royal Guard, or even the Legion. The two guards crossed their spears with practiced precision as he approached, blocking his way.

"State your business."

"Centurion Tercio Krosus, here to see Princess Celestia. Legatus Phalanx said I was to--"

"Oh, right," the guard on the left said as they pulled their spears back. "You're the, uh...hooman?"

"Human," Tercio corrected him. "But I am a soldier first and foremost. My physical appearance matters little."

"As you say. Still...never seen your kind before."

"Yeah, I get that a lot..."

"Anyway, you're free to enter. The princess will be joining you shortly, I believe she's still in her chambers taking care of...princess things."

"Princess things?" Tercio asked with an arched eyebrow.

"Forgive my compatriot," the other guard said, "he's somewhat informal at times."

"That's fine with me, informal is a nice break from the monotony of drill and pomp." It suddenly dawned on him that he was likely speaking to soon-to-be colleagues. "My apologies, I didn't realize you were Praetorians. I suppose we'll be serving alongside each other soon." He stuck out a closed fist. "Tercio."

"Decanus Reveille, nice to meet you." The grey pegasus bumped Tercio's fist with his hoof, while Tercio mouthed the name of his new comrade several times, getting used to its pronunciation.

Rev-uh-lee...

"Decanus Morning Star," the second pony said, his coat a much brighter orange. Tercio noted that he didn't stick his hoof out, but simply tipped his spear and gave a slight nod. Between the two, Reveille seemed far more personable.

"Morning Star? Quite a fitting name for this line of work, I'd say."

Morning Star rolled his eyes. "Yes, yes, as many before you have said, and as many after you will no-doubt continue to say."

Both soldiers were Decani in rank, but neither had saluted Tercio or called him 'sir'. He considered asking why that was, but thought better of it -- the Praetorians had their own rules, that much was clear. He hoped to get some sort of solid information on such things.

"It's good to meet the both of you, soldiers, but I really ought to wait for the princess. No doubt we'll see each other soon."

"No doubt," Morning Star said. "Two rules before you enter, soldier: Keep your hooves...hands...visible at all times, and be on your best behavior. Though you may be the only one in there with the princess, you are not alone. Is that clear?"

Not particularly. "Perfectly clear, Decanus Morning Star."

"I should hope so."

With a slight grunt of exertion the massive double doors swung open, slowly revealing the throne room itself. The sight took Tercio's breath away.

A large, circular room, two-tiered with banister-lined balconies, greeted his eyes. Large windows adorned the upper level and sunlight streamed in to shine on the polished, marble floor that glittered with flecks of gold. Long, curved ribbons of pink, green and blue hung from the balconies and intertwined with each other, reaching all the way to the end of the room, where they formed a circle that bordered a large tapestry that showed the entirety of Equestria -- from the Whitetail Woods in the west, to the Swayback Mountains in the east, and all points in between.

Underneath the huge banner, covered in a rainbow of colorful flowers and gold-embroidered red silk, sat the throne. More of an oval-shaped dais than an actual seat, which he supposed only made sense for a pony. Or a leader of ponies. An arching back wall showed an engraved scene of some sort, though he couldn't make it out from where he was standing. The whole area gave off an air of power, but he found it oddly comforting as well. Countless pillows of all sizes were laid against the corners or formed into seating circles, and he could imagine himself falling into a pile of them and drifting off to sleep in the warmth of the mid-day's glow.

A noise caught his attention, distant at first.

Click-clack, click-clack.

Metallic hoofsteps. She was approaching. His heart began to race, and he frantically looked himself over once more, making sure his uniform was exactly as it should be. The hoofbeats grew louder until it sounded like she was just around the corner.

Not just 'she', he thought, but the ruler of all of Equestria. His Princess.

His pulse still pounding in his ears, he bent down on one knee with his helmet at his side, and lowered his head in respect and admiration. The sound of the princess' arrival entered the room, then stopped a short distance from him. He could feel her strong presence, and though he had thought the moment would be nerve-wracking, he found his heartbeat steadying and a sense of calm coming over him. Gradually and gently, like a soft breeze. He found his voice after several seconds. He spoke as he continued to avert his gaze to the floor.

"My Princess, I, Tercio Krosus, son of Roughshod, and Centurion of Equestria and her people, greet you and hereby offer my life to you in service to the crown."

He waited for what felt like a very long time, though he was sure it couldn't have been more than a few breaths. Was she trying to determine what he was? Was she confused or revolted by his strange physique? Surely she had known of his arrival...

"Please rise, Centurion. There is no need to avert your eyes here."

"Y-Yes, Princess." Slowly, he stood back up, straightened himself out, and turned his gaze to meet her. He gasped softly, his eyes growing wide despite his formality.

"Welcome, Tercio," she said with a voice as soft as the finest silk and a smile that was as warm as the sunlight itself. "I am Princess Celestia, and it is a pleasure to finally meet you after all this time."