Note: This is a tiny bit shorter than most chapters. It's more to establish setting than to be an actual 'Things will happen' type of chapter. Just FYI. Enjoy!

A month later, the Invictus had arrived back in a port in the Archipelago. From there, the regiments that came back began the varying length of marches back to their garrisons. Meanwhile, the Caesar, herself, and the Caesars Praetorians had a vehicle to take them to the city.

It was a strange thing. It resembled a carriage, with a blocky shape and a pair of axles with spoked wheels. However, it was made of metal and had nothing pulling it. Instead, an engine, as she was told it was called, sat in the front with six battery plugs sticking out of the engine. Instead of a set of reins, a wheel and a lever sat by the driver. It was fascinating, something that Twilight would have a field day with; but she honestly didn't care.

It was quite a slow journey, and while the Praetorians didn't seem to mind, Rainbow was bored out of her mind, not to mention impatient. Bored because there wasn't really anything for her to do. She had read all of the books, and the carriage was almost constantly on the move, she couldn't find a place on the side of the road to take a nap or something. And she was impatient because she wanted to see her son. It had been almost three months, and she had already missed his first birthday due to the campaign.

Eventually, after about two the roads began to shift. Instead of the bumpy dirt paths, they began to take the form of smooth, well-maintained cobblestone. Signs began to make themselves visible along the side of the road, all pointing down the road. They read: The Eternal City: 5 Kilometers. Eventually, the rocky hills and short scraggly trees gave way, and the Pryhan capital, which bore the same name as its empire, was revealed.

Even Rainbow, who had seen impressive cities in Equestria like Canterlot and Cloudsdale, couldn't help but marvel at the massive city in front of her. From the elevated position up on a hill, she could see almost the whole of the city. Surrounding the whole city was a massive wall, easily 75 FT tall. Inside the city, brick apartments dominate most of the city, rising up about half the height of the wall with a line of laundry stretching between the street like party streamers. Further into the city, massive marble houses, like those of Canterlot, sat nestled together in close neighborhoods. Smoke rose from smiths, restaurants, bathhouses, and other stores, making the whole city skyline awash with a thin white layer. Even from here, she could make out hundreds of people lining the streets, going about their business in the massive city.

The carriage rolled merrily down the path as if it had seen the impressive sight over a thousand times and grown accustomed to it. Rainbow realized she had been gawking for some time, and shook her head before racing down toward the carriage to catch up. The walls soon loomed before them, and they stopped at a large gate at the city walls. Even though they weren't in the city, people passed by the carriage; Caragors, Tao Tei, Terrans, however, the vast majority of them appeared to be Demigryphs. Besides them, she saw a few other species she hadn't seen elsewhere. Minotaurs, Saddle Arabian Horses, Diamond Dogs, even a few Neighponese kirin.

As the carriage stopped, a guard came up to the side of it. When the window opened, the guard saluted, saying the usual, "Ave, Caesar", before he added. "Welcome back to Pryha, Caesar. Anybody not registered to have a weapon inside the Pomerium?"

"No, Damianus. Everyone is able to bring them inside the pomerium."

"Even her, Caesar?", he said, pointing a paw at her.

Caesar Drusilla replied, "Yes, Daminanus. Even her. Now, carry on."

"Of course, Caesar. Vale." He then stepped back, allowing the carriage to enter the city.

As impressive as the city was from the hill overlooking it, it was easily as impressive up close. The brick buildings rose up above the cobbled streets, their shadows big enough to cast shade over entirety the streets. The shops leaked out various smells, from the harsh smell of polish, metal, and fabric to the heavenly aroma of freshly-baked bread and roasting meat. Street musicians stood on every corner, filling the air with the sounds of drums, horns, and lyres. Mixed with the constant beat of sandaled feet on the streets, the whole city sounded like one massive band. The constant split off paths led to other areas of the city.

A few notable buildings that she had seen from the hill now loomed in front of her. One was a massive arena, easily the size of a hoofball stadium. It was made of polished stone, and with the gabs in it, it had an almost skeletal appearance. In a large square, they skirted the edge of, a massive statue stood, likely of Damocles. She didn't get a good look at it, but she what she could make outlined up with pictures and descriptions of him. A massive Demigryph in ornate plate armor, holding aloft an eagle topped staff in one hand, while the other was raised to the heavens, clad in a bladed gauntlet.

Finally, they crossed a large stone bridge which was rather lightly trafficked. On the other side, the buildings began to less resemble the stores and apartments of the rest of the city. Instead, these were replaced with large, walled houses, small forums, and in the distance, a massive palace. That is what they neared.

It was massive, and she had seen Canterlot Castle by comparison. It more resembled the Ponyville Town Hall, however, with its rectangular box shape, tall columns, and wide entrance staircase. And yet, at the same time, it bore the same air of regality that the Canterlot Castle had. Lining the stairs were cast brass statues of eagles, wings spread and heads held up high. Above the archway entrance to the palace was a similar brass statue, this time with a fig branch in one hand and a sword in the other. Small gardens surrounded the entrance, full of blooming flowers and well-trimmed hedges. Banners made of purple cloth with golden eagles on them ran down the columns, flapping in the light breeze the day was graced with. It was, in a word, magnificent.