25th July, 722 BNM

Mid Morning

Chamitaly, Romane Imperial Homeland

Romane metropolis

Main Forum

They had not seen Mashri since she was taken, and she had actually only asked for them now. And yet 3 days had passed since Mashri was brought before her brother in prison, which they didn't know themselves.

Waiting patiently, Starswirl noticed the familiar dark grey cloaked Unicorn approaching among the throngs of crowds in the Forum square.

Somewhat irritated, the Grey bearded wizard confronted the younger, black furred and white maned Unicorn wizard.

"You were gone last night, and I sincerely doubt it was just for an excursion to the public libraries of the City like you said in your note." Starswirl semi reprimanded. Narrowing his eyes slightly in annoyance, Siral spoke calmly:

"I was researching the culture, the politics. For all I know we may not come back here once we go to the next being like Mashri is supposed to be."

"We've yet to see how Mashri is this avatar of Loyalty." Starswirl pointed out, to which Siral remarked:

"Perhaps we haven't been proactive enough."

"We mustn't interfere Siral. The Prophecy stated that-"

"That you would meet them, nothing else concerning them was mentioned aside from them being exemplary. Sometimes you have to push things for them to head along tracks destined even for themselves."

"We shall take a hooves off approach Siral."

With a slight look of surrender, Siral looked away with a meek remark: "I just feel like we might inspire loyalty in her by demonstrating it to her from ourselves."

"But we-.. You may have a point in this case Siral. Very well, I suggest we intervene if it looks like she'd about to die without proving her loyalty." Starswirl decided, before noting aloud:

"My senses and magic alerted me to finding her, I suspect some sort of message when the example she's destined to set occurs, which I must witness as destined."

"You were never this slavish to anything decided and rigid before that Prophecy was mentioned." Siral remarked. While throngs of crowds milled around them, they began to head in the same direction as a large portion, Starswirl remarking as the Colosseum began to draw into view around a corner, down a large main road:

"They've not been wrong before, only vague. So remember Siral, hooves off unless she's going to die with no loyalty proven."

"I shall not intervene in there unless you do." Siral promised sincerely, his mind subtly drawing inwards about his activities the night before, what he'd found out would likely happen, what it was meant to do.

He hid from Starswirl exactly WHOM he'd met last night, that was a private matter he needn't worry about. But Siral refused to be a passive bystander. His friend was concerned for this Mashri, and slaven to his destiny he'd heard.

Siral was a free agent in this regard.

Midday

Chamitaly, Romane Imperial Homeland

Romane metropolis

Colosseum

Combatant Quarters

A strange box had arrived 2 hours before her scheduled match against a mystery opponent, a few prisoners of war, and alongside a few of her allied fellow low ranking gladiators.

Curious, her gear for the match ready, she opened the box, finding a strange set of clothing inside it, almost like desert robes with many holes and pockets for weapons, tools, and other things. A few vicious looking daggers, a spear and a curving bandit sword accompanied it.

The garb of the Iulian region bandits her brother was associated with.

Below that, she saw something sorely missed, but now implying something terrible.

Her Romane army uniform, complete with the maroon coloured battleskirts, armour, sword and shield, and even a chain whip she seldom used.

Inside was a very morbid looking note, written in plain text:

The words on the note almost made her crumple in shock, and she had to shuffle over to a nearby seat to sit herself down.

For an hour Mashri was silent, pondering, thinking over everything.

The Romanes were expansive, they took the village she was born in, forcing her family to abandon her somehow. They expanded, taking land because they were the strongest.

Yet they were strongest, the most advanced, the most deserving. And she was raised into glory and duty, a greater existence, then she'd have had like her brother had.

On the other hoof, her brother Kalmai betrayed her trust, using knowledge she gave him to escape, after she failed to have him released as a sign of mercy, to lead a sneak attack through the tunnel he snuck through and kill dozens.

Yet he'd waited until she was gone, and killed only the Romane soldiers there. And he was family, the only family she had left by blood.

But the Romane Centurion that took her in, her late father, had also been family.

She was born an Iulian, Saddle Arabian Horse, but would have been a bandit most likely.

She was raised a Romane citizen, but was taken from her birthhome and parents she'd never know, the same empire that imprisoned her now.

She knew Romane policy though, and this was as agreed by her. She was being punished as the Romane laws required.

But staring at the two uniforms, she didn't know who to trust. Her Iulian origins, or her Romane legacy.

Up overhead, she heard the crowds growing excited as the first gladiatorial bout today was over after a gruelling hit and run type battle.

2 hours later

Early Afternoon

Chamitaly, Romane Imperial Homeland

Romane metropolis

Colosseum, grandstands

Crowds roared in approval as the last of the bodied was cleared off the arena floor, and the announce took to his podium at the edge of the ring. Not killed animals were roughly lead back down the arena's floor set hatches by their chains, and the 4 bodies of the ones who were killed in combat that round, among about 16 fighters and 3 others among the same lot injured, had been cleared up by the Colosseums workers, slave or hired.

As the announcer began to speak the results of the re-enactment of the Espana mountains battle waged 200 years ago, the 2 wizards listened intently as the talk then turned to the next match.

"-pleased to announce, a surprise, last minute alteration to the schedule. A change issued from the military arm of the Empire itself, and an offer of redemption, or martyrdom by glorious fall in battle alongside, by blood relation, enemies of Romane."

"The reknowned Gladiatrix, Mashri, came here disgraced after one act of treasonous mercy on a brother from Iudian, her homeland, allowed him to lead the assault of the Iudian fortress. She had since gained great favour, and yet now she has the opportunity for freedom, or glory!"

In the centre of the arena, a trap door opened, as a group of Iudian bandit fighters, clad in their armour and weaponry, was raised, all of the 5 flanked by Romane guards:

"Presenting, from the very bandit hordes that raided the Iudian Garrison, the bandit leader Kalmai, Mashri's brother! And his fellow bandit leaders he aided in attacking and spilling Romane blood!"

Roars and bellows, jeering at or cheering for blood, and some flat out boos, rang down on them. In the stands, Starswirl shook his head slightly, but he paused, noticing Siral seemed slightly pleased.

"What is it Siral?"

"Wait for it."

It took less than a second to realise it.

"You had a hoof in this, didn't you?"

"I did. You wished to see her as an exemplar of loyalty, and I dug up an old test the early Romanes had to determine loyalty. I visited the manager of the gladiators and 'persuaded' him to consult with the military, and I managed to 'persuade' them to agree. A simple mind altering potion slipped into his drink did the trick, and a few words of mine whispered into his mind."

Starswirl was stunned, as Siral spoke calmly: "Now instead of fighting aimlessly and slowly regaining her standing, Mashri can prove if she'd truly a symbol of loyalty by making the difficult choice that all loyalties start with, alignment."

"I told you we aren't to interfere!" Starswirl hissed, while Siral turned sharply to Starswirl and hissed back:

"And I wasn't willing to wait around for potentially years to see the exemplar, if she really is it, show her example behaviour!"

"I know you meant to induce a situation to force pressure and a decisive action, but you interfered in predestined events you weren't supposed to be a part of in the first place!" Starswirl felt like shouting, but Siral turned to face the arena, saying calmly:

"Berate me if this doesn't work out. But if it does work, you'll see that passiveness is not the only way. I thought you would be up for an active role, given you being a more 'involved' wizard before you became self-enslaved to this role of 'witnessing' these destined 6 before the conflict to come."

"Dramatic examples can garner results, but you had no right to engineer them to occur yourself! You are toying with somepony's life and others here, might you do the same with others we meet after this?" Starswirl reprimanded harshly, while Siral's ears flattened slightly as he heard his friend finish his slight diagreeement. Around them in the crowds, the chanting and cheering had ensured nopony had eavesdropped on them.

Turning to the arena, Starswirl then noticed the 5 Iulian barbarian fighters, flanked by their Romane guards in a circle around them, were looking about more confusedly now.

"Where is she anyway?" Starswirl wondered, the same question prevalent on everyone's minds.

As the trap door then lowered nearby, the crowds roared at the sight of, apparently, the gladiators finally in place.

"And now the fighters, the brave garrison who withstood the savage attack those months ago! Your Emperor is proud to present, the Iudian champions!"

The trapdoor began to rise, and 5 figures rose, all of them somewhat to more seasoned gladiators. As the figures came into view, the crowds gave a massive roar at the sight they saw.

Early Afternoon

Chamitaly, Romane Imperial Homeland

Romane metropolis

Colosseum, arena base

In the dark, as they saw the final gladiator approaching, the worker Chamois began to lower the levers and pulleys to bring the trap door platform down to raise them up.

Caikus, the large brown dog fighter, noticed Mashri approaching, the outline and vague colours of her armour looking rather fitting for her. She seemed to suit it well, given what he knew of her.

The brown horse marched quietly onto the trapdoor, while the other 3 gladiators, 2 Chamois males and a Minotaur, paced impatiently. In his deep voice, the Minotaur male, Braxius, demanded:

"What kept you?"

Mashri shot a dark look at Braxius, clearly not in the mood for smalltalk right now.

Beside her, Caikus readied his sword, while Mashri herself took a deep breath as the trapdoor was raised, the sunlight from above in the arena piercing as they rose.

The crowds roared in utter anticipation, and she wondered if they were surprised at her choice.

Arena ring

As the crowds roared in excitement, Kalmai turned to look at the competition. Mashri was the only horse among them, there being a dangerous looking Minotaur, a large dog, and 2 seasoned looking Chamois male fighters, all 4 of them decked in the usual 'faux' Romane military gladiator attire.

But Mashri, his burly, brown maned and furred sister, stood there among, defiant, but head slightly turned down, as she sported the traditional cloak work by the Iulian bandits.

With a slightly prideful smile, Kalmai then saw Mashri walk forwards from the others, gesturing silently for no fighting yet.

Reaching the outside guard, Mashri venomously asked: "A few words with them please. And I'll make what happens later worth it."

Looking between them, one of the guards, a Chamois male, then saw Mashri pull a small part of her cloak aside to reveal something none of the other 4 saw, nor did Kalmai himself. Taken aback, the guard gave a signal, and Mashri walked forwards, re-tucking the cloak to appear just as Kalmai and his 4 followers did.

The crowds utterly raged now, demanding action, but the 4 gladiators and guards still did nothing.

She knew she'd best keep this quick, so Mashri gave stiif looks to the other 4 Saddle Arabian stallions, clad in similar cloaks she wore, hiding their weapons under them. Turning to her brother, Mashri gave a small snort, as she admitted:

"I, made my choice. I had to choose those I felt most at home with, most belonging to. If I die, I'll die with them."

Overcome with pride in his younger sister, Kalmai moved forwards to hug her, but she suddenly held up a forehoof in defiance of his gesture.

Backing up slightly, Mashri then gripped the cloak, and ripped it off herself, revealing the Romane, Centurion rank battle Armour she sported underneath it.

"You are family only by blood, and I feel more for the Empire and its citizens, faults and all! You using my help to further your violence, throwing me under the wagon to do it, made this choice easier for me. I was born Iudian, but I live as a Romane!"

Taking a few more steps back, as she heard the crowds realize what she had been doing, and roar in utter support of her choice, Mashri raised a hoof in the air to incite the crowds further.

Behind her, the Minotaur, Dog and 2 Chamois gladiators laughed and cheered at the dramatic flourish Mashri had displayed, knowing she'd played the crowds like a master.

Kalmai stood dumbfounded, as he saw his sister wearing the armour of his people's enemy, and his captors, and even her own punishers.

He began to boil, as his 4 stallion allies began to shift, ready to fight, as Mashri gave them no more looks before she turned to stride back to her 4 gladiator allies.

"TREACHEROUS WHORE! DOES YOUR FAMILY MEAN NOTHING TO YOU!"

Under her breath, Mashri remarked coolly, confident in her choice as she solidified it herself.

"Home is where one's heart resides, blood family or not. Romane, not you or your people, is my home."

Chamitaly, Romane Imperial Homeland

Romane metropolis

Colosseum, grandstands

As Mashri walked from the guard ringed 5 Saddle Arabian stallions, back to her 4 gladiator allies, Starswirl suddenly reeled over as something burned in his mind.

He saw a hue of ruby [or blood] red, and his eyes were drawn strongly to the Romane Centurion mare rejoining her comrades, surrounded by the cheers of the Romane empire.

Home is where one's heart resides, blood family or not.

Those words, Mashri's words to herself, burned into Starswirl's mind as he came out of this phase, while Siral had suddenly released from his slight regret at Starswirl reprimanding him for his choice, pulling Starswirl up before anypony noticed the elder looking Unicorn seemingly suffering from heat stroke.

"Are you feeling well!?"

"Yes, yes, but, it worked. Whatever it was, it happened. She displayed her choice, where her true loyalties lie." Starswirl remarked, as he saw the Romane guards suddenly begin marching from the Saddle Arabian fighters to the arena edge, while the 5 gladiators, Mashri included, readied to fight. Among the enemies, Kalmai was raring to go.

Starswirl gave Siral a blank look, remarking: "Your choice worked Siral, but it won't happen again without my input. You can guarantee that."

"I'm sorry, and yes. But what of Mashri now?"

"I want to ensure we can have some way of tracing her. The Prohpechy mentioned she would be an exemplar of Loyalty, and I think it would be best to obtain something to recall her by. A token from, or of her."

As Starswirl remarked this, Siral saw the fight about to occur, the white furred, black maned wizard remarking:

"What if she falls in combat here?"

Starswirl said nothing, before the bugles of the gladiator ring sounded.

In the arena, over the roars of the crowds, the war cry of Kalmai, the lead Saddle Arabian stallion, echoed, as he charged forwards, eyes only for Mashri. The other 4 cloaked stallions ran too, ruffling cloaks revealing armour and weapons they had experience with.

The 5 gladiators readied, the Minotaur male, Braxius, snorting as he surged forwards, as Caikus ran ahead too, flanked by the 2 Chamois male twin gladiators and Mashri, who clearly would not charge headlong into battle yet, being known for both her strength and tactics.

But the crowds didn't care, they had clear sides to root for and against, and a gladiator that displayed clear loyalty beyond many others in the army among them. She certainly would live if she didn't fall in combat.

But among her enemies, her brother, Kalmai, was the one she'd meet in life most determined to kill her at any moment.

Her greatest test was two-fold, being both one of choice and loyalty, the other of facing the consequences of that choice.

Romane rules made this happen, and she knew that. But she would now face down her past she'd now discarded.

In the grandstands, despite her proving herself, the two wizards, Siral and especially Starswirl, could only watch for now.

But it wasn't just Mashri that would make a big impression today.

Author's Notes:

Mashri's fakeout with her Romane Centurion gear beneath the robe, in public, was an excellent way to get the crowds on her side before the fight even began, and to make a display to her brother. Two birds one stone.

Mashri's loyalty is determined by which side she feels she is most at home with. Loyalty to what you yourself is has to come before anything else. If your true self is selfish, or selfless, be true to it for greater fulfilment. Besides, the Romane Empire's done more for her than her family ever did, who abandoned her in a panic when the Empire came to her village to expand, though they didn't kill her or other abandoned children, but assimilated them.

But more on these specifics for the last chapter.

Unlike other gladators fights in this micro story though, where non-lethality and showmanship was heralded and encouraged, these Saddle Arabian Horses are ready to maim and kill, especially Kalmai now.

The choice has been made, now the consequences.

And in other developments, here is where the microfractures of Starswirl and Siral's methods come to blows. To interfere and engineer to expose what they need [Siral], or to sit by and let fate play out due to not messing with the Prophecy on its own [Starswirl]. These two mindsets won't be rigid for all the Element beings' eras with these two, and will alternate given the situations.

Not all the Element Essence beings will be in such dire situations as now, as in not imprisoned and forced to fight. But Loyalty seemed more militaristic, more imperial, as a concept in life, friendship or otherwise.