Music: Rome is falling by Civil War

The three sounds echoed across the plains, off the city walls, and seemed to reverberate in their armor. The battle didn't slow like it did in fantasy books, but the sounds seemed to make the battle noises dull. Even over the thrum of battle, the sounds came over clearer. Harsh, loud trumpets and reverberating, heavy drums made up most of that sound, the crescendo being added to by the footfalls of the soldiers. Over all of that, she could hear, of all things, singing.

"🎵There's forty script, on the drum!🎵
🎵For those who volunteer to come!🎵
🎵To list and fight the foes today!🎵
🎵O'er the hills, and far away!"

"🎵O'er the hills, and o'er the seas!🎵
🎵To lands north, south, west, and east!🎵
🎵The Caesar commands, and we obey! 🎵
🎵 O'er the hills, and far away!🎵"

"🎵When duty calls me, I must go!🎵
🎵To stand and face another foe!🎵
🎵But part of me will always, stray!🎵
🎵O'er the hills, and far away!"

"🎵O'er the hills, and o'er the seas!🎵
🎵To lands north, south, west, and east!🎵
🎵The Caesar commands, and we obey!🎵
🎵O'er the hills, and far away!🎵"

"🎵So fall in lads, behind the drum!🎵
🎵With colors blazing, like the sun!🎵
🎵Along the road to return one day!🎵
🎵O'er the hills, and far away!"

"🎵O'er the hills, and o'er the seas!🎵
🎵To lands north, south, west, and east!🎵
🎵The Caesar commands, and we obey!🎵
🎵O'er the hills, and far away!🎵"

It was a tune she was unfamiliar with, even after hearing at least half a dozen Pryhan marching songs. She was torn from her distraction by panicked yelling. Looking down, she saw the Pryhan line collapse completely, those who could fleeing towards the safety of the city walls. Those that couldn't, mostly the proper Regiments, fought on, desperately trying to escape the sudden encirclement. The Caesar and her honor guard were nowhere to be seen, likely having fled back inside the wall by now. She growled, then focused back downward. She had to allow those below her time to fall back.

She raced down, blades flashing by her sides as her wings beat furiously. She dove into those enemies who had broken off in pursuit of the fleeing Pryhans. Many didn't even have time to react, and those that did couldn't react fast enough. She left a path of dead or wounded enemies as she swept across the front of the pursuing Mainlanders. She made another pass and still more fell. However, the spread-out nature and sheer number of them reduced how effective these passes were, and they still kept coming.

Then, the singing, marching, and music reached a crescendo as its source revealed itself. A large force of soldiers cresting a hill, marching along the wall of the city faster at a fast speed. Not her fast, naturally, but still much faster than a few ponies she had raced back in Equestria. Most of them were simple Pedes, the banners among them indicating the 12th, 11th, and 10th Regiments of the Pryhan army. However, a small number by contrast with the regiments, of Pedes stood out from the rest.

The banners were pretty similar, chain-mail was the primary armor, and the tunics and pteryges straps were still the same royal blue. However, this was where the similarities ended. As opposed to the simple metal square over their chests, these Pedes wore segmented, wide-shouldered segmented plates over their whole shoulders as well as their flanks. The right foreleg was protected by a similar segmented guard, called a manica. The helmets were also different, being much smaller height-wise as well as having larger cheek plates, a large, extending neck guard, and several reinforcing ridges along the front of the helmet. They were armed with spears, each about seven feet long with a simple iron point with a barb by the base of the point. Strapped to their sides were curved, sickle-like swords. However, the most obvious distinction was the shields affixed to the left foreleg.

Now, using a shield was rather uncommon as they were hard to use. They were unwieldy, especially when fighting on all four legs, and were either too small to offer adequate protection or too heavy to be of any use. And yet, here they were, using large, wooden oval shields painted blue with images of eagles. Later on, she would learn that the shields were held on with a leather strap and a sliding lock bar, with the shield able to be slung over the back when not in use. The harness for the lock was mounted to the shoulder, allowing the user to hide behind it somewhat effectively while still having enough mobility to fight from behind it. It was a simple, brutal design; and one that now formed a solid wall bristling with lances, ready to smash into the invaders exposed flanks.

While the reinforcements were moving into position, Rainbow refocused her attention on those who were fleeing the battlefield. The mainlanders, having noticed the massive force, had mostly begun to turn their attention to them. However, a few small clusters of them still chased after the routed Pryhan force. She darted after those groups, cutting them down as quick as possible. Due to the low numbers of soldiers pursuing, they were quickly cut down, and she turned her attention to the retreating Pedes.

Many had, by that point, reached the city gate. They began to bang on it, shouting things like "Let us in!" or "Open the fucking gates!". At first, she didn't notice why they were yelling this but discovered the cause as to why when she landed behind them. The gate was closed, portcullis secured firmly in place. Nothing, short of a battering ram, would be opening that gate from here. The Caesar must have retreated inside of the gate after the extra mainlanders arrived, shutting the gate behind her.

She yelled out, "What the fuck are you doing!?" Many of the people by the gate, most of them militia, turned to look at her. Fear shone over their faces like a shroud.

"Trying to get back into the cities! If we have to die, we'll die with our families!", one yelled. She sprung off the ground, stopping to hover a few inches from his face.

"That won't be happening! I've dealt with this kind of warriors before. It they get into the city, then they'll kill you alright. But they'll take your families for slaves, steal all you hold dear, and burn everything else!" She backed up, addressing the whole mass. "Listen, I know you're scared. I have a son in the city; I'm as scared of him as you are! But, if we lose here, we put all of them at risk! If we crush them, here and now, we can save them all! I'm not asking you to do it for glory, or honor, or any of that shit! Do it for your homes, your families! What are you: Pryhans, or Rats!?"

They all looked at one another, looks varying wildly. From fear to stoutness, from calm to angry, and everything in between. However, one by one, their looks began to harden with resolve. Those that still had them drew weapons, while those that didn't looked around for them. Rainbow drew her own blades, gesturing towards where the enemy line was. "Come on! Let's show these bastards exactly what a Pryhan can do! Long live the Empire!" And, with a mighty cheer, the rest of the previously routed forces followed her in a counter-attack.

As she got closer and a bit higher, Rainbow took in the new troops. The normal Pedes were capable troops, attacking those of the enemy outfitted similarly to them and trying to encircle the mainlanders line. The ones with shields and new armor had formed a wall with their shields, spears sticking out over them to form a forest of spears. They were engaged in a shoving match with the minotaur pikes, each side trying to get the right distance to use their weapons effectively. It looked like either side could take the fight.

However, with a flaring sensation in her flanks, she smashed into the Minoan standard-bearer at full force. He fell to the ground, the flag falling with him as she sprang off his corpse. While she had free reign in the enemy block earlier, she had an even easier time with the backs of the pikebulls turned and unable to fight back. A few dropped the long pole weapons to turn and fight her, but that number was next to useless when the rest of her rallied force smashed into the rear of the enemy force.

At that point, the massacre was now on the enemy side. Caught between the reinvigorated militia and the fresh troops, they were cut to ribbons. Like with the Regiments on her side, those that could begin to flee, throwing down their weapons and bits of armor as they did so. The rest were either killed or threw down their weapons and surrendered. Soon, those still left that weren't dead or captured had fled back over the way from where they came. The battlefield was silent.

Rainbow was unsure of who started it. Several minutes were spent just looking at the field of the dead. Crows already had began to pick at the dead, and the stench was horrible. She had no doubt she would've fainted a few years ago if she saw this, but now she just steeled herself. Then, someone began to shout "Huzzah!" That cry was soon taken up by more of them, and more, and more, until it seemed like all eight thousand Pryhans who were left were shouting it. With no chance of being heard over the deafening roar of they cry, she joined in.

"HUZZAH! HUZZAH! HUZZAH!"