“Sister, you should know better than trusting that codpeice of a noble with our citizens taxes…” I say to a taller, white alicorn mare. She turned to me.

“Luna, I will always value your counsel, but Duke Gold Coin has the best requirements for the job.”

“He is a scrupleless blockhead bent on usurping our thrones…” I stated with venom.

“This is about the taxation of the Sarosians isn’t it?” my sister asked.

“No! Well, kind of… He is weakening my power base by taxing them into oblivion, and by doing so bringing us both down sister…” I reasoned.

“Luna, Duke Gold Coin is trying to raise funds for another legion to fight the Griffons… They're acting up again.” the older alicorn stated.

“We need another legion?”

“Our forces are too spread thin… Covering the minotaurs from expanding their maze cities into Equestrian land and keeping the dogs from enslaving the west is proving to be more than a challenge…”

“Let me handle the legion and the Griffins.” I stated with fire.

“Oh come now Luna, surely there must be something more... Befitting of Royalty that you could be doing...”

“I'm your Lead General.” I deadpanned.

“Alright fine, if you can get enough ponies for a legion in a WEEK… I’ll let you counter the next incursion.”

“I won’t let you down sister!” I cried happily, scampering away to begin.

“Sergeant!” I called at a gruff Pegasi soldier.

“Milady.” she bowed.

“Gather a squad and go post these up in the Sarosian districts…” I ordered, handing the sergeant a stack of recruitment posters.

“The Sarosian districts milady?” she asked. “I would advise against it, those animals aren’t right for legion work…”

“They are ponies just like you and Us sergeant, and you will call them as such.” I reprimanded.

“Yes milady.” she bowed again and hurried away, stack of posters in tow.

“Alright…” I said to a group of generals around my war table. “What We’re going to suggest is very unorthodox…” I said, walking behind their backs as they glanced over the paperwork I gave them.

“Unorthodox?!” one of them exclaimed in rage. “This is downright disrespectful!” he yelled, throwing the paper onto the table.

“You disapprove?” I asked.

“You’re damn right I disapprove my lady!” he bellowed. “A Sarosian only legion?! Are you out of your moony mind?!”

“And what is wrong with our Sarosian citizens?” I asked.

“Well…” a calmer mare began. “They just aren’t really soldier material…”

“How so?” I asked, knowing full well where this conversation was going.

“They’re animals! Butchers of the worst sort!" the stallion blurted.

"We fail to see your reasoning." I stated simply.

"Look Milady..." the calmer mare began, tapping her hooves together nervously. "We all know what they did before the rule of you and your sister... We're just wary of giving them that sort of power again."

"We vaguely recall the same thing being said about Pegasi." I reposted.

A third of the Ponies gathered, the Pegasi, had the decency to look sheepish.

“I know you’re all wondering why you’re here today…” my chosen drill sergeant called to a crowd of 50 Sarosians, all of whom answered the posters. “You’re here as an experimental unit under the command of our Princess Luna…” Many of the Sarosians began to mutter. “She will dictate your training, organization, and tactics. I will carry out her demands… Any questions?”

No hooves went up.

“Good! Now give me 50 laps!”

“Very well done Sergeant…” I complimented the drill instructor as we watched the first unit go through a combat simulation.

“I’ll admit, at first I didn’t know why you had me do the exercises you did…” the mare stated. “But the Sarosians responded well with the training you came up with… I had no idea they could hide like that, even in sunlight.”

“Don’t underestimate anything just because of stereotypes Sergeant.” I advised with a smile.

“A wise idea Princess…” the drill sergeant answered. “I’ve seen them do things I didn’t even think Griffons could do.”

“Any idea when you’ll be able to start another group?” I asked.

“Any day now.” she replied.

“Good, we have a thousand two hundred more Sarosians to train .”

“I might need some help then.” she laughed.

“I see you’ve gotten a lot done Luna…” Celestia complimented as she sat down on her throne.

“Thank you sister, but I’ve done little of the work.” I replied.

“Indeed… I knew the Sarosians thought well about you, but not this well.”

“A little kindness can go a long way.” I took a sip of tea. “You should know that.”

“You’d think I would…” she giggled. “But even after all these years we’re still learning things.”

“Thank goodness for that… Things would get boring if we knew everything.”

“Hear hear.” she chuckled.

“My ladies!” somepony shouted, bursting into the throne room, bowing at the foot of the dais.

“Duty calls…” Celestia whispered. “Yes my little pony?”

“Our spies are reporting the Griffins are preparing for an attack in the city of Trottingham…” the messenger stammered.

“Say no more sister.” I said as I got up, putting what was left of my tea down. “A bargain is a bargain.”

“I really do think it would be best if…” Celestia started. I raised a hoof.

“Sister, We have upheld Our end of the bargain, now it is time to prove Equestria not a single pony is worthless.”

“Alright Luna…” Celestia relented. “Godspeed.”

“We wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Row upon row of armored Sarosians were lined up in block formation in the Everfree parade grounds. Their armor was a dull silver plated steel, not the golden bronze favored by the standard legion. It was lighter, stronger, and harder to see. There were a total of five battalions with 250 Ponies each that were ready… Each only had a week of training.

I strode by the front of the procession in my own enchanted steel. My helmet tucked under one wing, and the sword 'Lunar Majesty' tucked under the other.

“Soldiers!” I shouted. Everypony straitened. “ Two weeks ago, We bet Our sister We could raise a legion in a week… And use said legion to counter the next Griffon attack… Because that is where we are going… Right into the heart of a Griffon crusade!

Now most ponies would look at this legion and ask why? I’ll ask different a different question… Why not? Why can’t every citizen of Equestria protect their beloved kin?” I passed my gaze over the procession. “Why can’t a Sarosian protect the innocent? Because only the original founders are capable?!” I shouted angrily.

“We say no longer! No longer will Sarosians be condemned because of their ancestor’s mistakes!” the soldiers began to puff out their barrels, suddenly feeling like they weren’t the scum of the earth like most ponies thought. I calmed myself down a little. “Equestria at its core is based off of the very idea of harmony. The idea that coexistence is possible between the most hated of enemies! How hypocritical it is to let another pony tribe join, only to make them less than the common peasant! DISGRACEFUL! DISGRACEFUL WE SAY!” I shouted.

“We’ve seen many a Sarosian with more honor and worth than most of the unicorn nobility!” I glared over the ranks. “So we’ll ask you this… Do you want to be considered less than a common animal? DO YOU WANT TO BE CONSIDERED A BARBARIAN?!“

“NO!” they shouted.

“LOUDER!”

“NO!”

"I CAN'T HEAR YOU!"

"NO!"

“GOOD!” I screech at them. “Onwards!” I double check to make sure my helmet and sword are properly strapped on and extend my wings, beating them majestically as the legion took to the air.

Bit of a tangent here, but you'll see where we are very soon.

Also, regarding the upload schedule; I mistimed the verification of the story, so it became public like four hours before I meant it to. This chapter, and hopefully every chapter hereafter, will be the average upload time.

In the meantime, Discord! https://discord.gg/RVvqpuGaRa