One day, about a week before her son's third birthday, she received a request to meet with the Caesar. Well, not really a request, but he still wanted to meet her. Not really having much to do and, despite her son's energy, was bored out of his mind, she accepted.

The guard escorting her led her outside to one of the palace dining rooms. It was a surprisingly small room, only about the size of a medium-sized living room. It was furnished with a simple metal table and a few chairs and lit by a curtain covered skylight. Caesar Diocletian was sitting at one of the chairs, sipping from a small clay cup. He smiled as she entered, saying, "Welcome, Miss Rainbow. Have a seat, we have much to talk about." As she sat at the seat, he set another cup in front of her. "Here."

She lifted the cup to her lips, downing the whole thing in one gulp. It was watered down wine, similar to what was often drunk at the afternoon cocktail parties she had been forced to attend under Drusilla. The smooth, somewhat bitter liquid rushed down her throat quickly, and she slammed the cup back down on the table with a satisfied sigh. "So, what is it I can do for you, Caesar? I imagine you just didn't invite me to drink and chat."

"Actually, that's what I intend to do. What, can we not have a civilized chat?" He laughed, setting down his own cup. "In all due seriousness, I want to talk to you about something."

Now he had her attention. "And what would that be?"

"Your position in the Empire. I'm not entirely certain what your position was within the Empire under my sister. I was hoping you could enlighten me."

"I wish I could. But, she never really told me. I mean, she referred to me as Voluntatem, but that's about it. I was just her pony she sent out to deal with problems or for her to show off with the patricians."

"I see. All this, after putting you through the ringer too, eh?"

"Y-yeah, I guess. Look, what does all this have to do with me?"

"Come in," he said, gesturing to the door. Turning around in her seat, she saw an officer enter. He was a Terran wearing the new style of helmet, with a sideways blue feather crest, blue cloak, and the segmented frontal armor. His orange coat and dark red mane seemed somewhat familiar, but she couldn't quite place it. "This is Praefectus Aeternam Vexillum, second in command of the Fourteenth Regiment, under Praetor Dorus."

"Ave, Caesar. Ave, ma'am," he said, lowering his head as he gave both of them a Pryhan salute.

Rainbow said, "Why ain't Dorus here? If this has something to do with him or the Fourteenth, why is it his Second? Uh, no offense, Vex."

"N-none taken, ma'am. However, I regret to inform you that, after the battle of Pryha, Praetor Dorus died of his wounds."

Rainbow bowed her head, developing an obsessive interest in the hardwood floor. She hadn't spent all that much time with the Demigryph outside of her training, but she still considered him a friend. At least more of one than those traitors back in Equestria, but she digressed. "I-I'm sorry. I didn't know. But, still, what does that have to do with me?"

The Caesar clicked his paws, and two servants carried in a large crate. Meanwhile, Vexillum said, "Well, the Caesar said that he would be granting you command of the Regiment."

Rainbow recoiled in surprise, flying up off of her chair. "What!?"

Diocletian smiled at her reaction, saying, "Yes, that was my intention."

She whirled around in midair, now getting up in his face. "Are you serious!? I'm an assassin, thing, er. P-point is, I'm not qualified for this!"

"And why not," Diocletian said. "You studied military tactics under a renowned professor. You, on your own, turned the course of entire battles by flying up into the air to see enemy movements. You've performed actions that would get a Pedes promoted straight to a Centurion. The men of the Fourteenth both have worked with you on multiple occasions and respect you, which is half the problems with command." He leaned back in his chair, taking a sip of his wine before continuing. "Besides, it appears that your flank mark agrees with me."

Rainbow looked back at her flank, which just peaked out from behind her off-white tunic. She had first noticed the change a day after the battle of Pryha, after she had taken off her clothes to get some sleep. Sometime recently, most likely during the battle, it had changed. As opposed to the three-colored lightning bolt and cloud, it had changed into something both different and similar. It was one of the new Republican-style helmets, colored a dull silver with a Rainbow colored crest and a pair of blue wings spread out on its sides.

"W-well, I-I-I," she started, coming to a halt as she stopped talking.

The Caesar sat forward in his seat, resting a paw on her shoulder. "Listen, I've been talking with Castus recently. He's told me all about what you were like under my sister, and what has changed. I wouldn't be offering you the position if I didn't think you would be the best for the job. I haven't gotten this detailed a report since when he first told me about you during the Zebrican Campaign. Point is, I believe you will serve the Empire well and are well suited for the role. Now, are you up for it?"

Rainbow sat back down, yanking her talon away from the Caesar's paw. She thought about it, yet came to Diocletian's conclusion. She was well qualified and did have some experience with Dorus' unit. Besides, it felt like her own way to honor him. She shot him a smile, saying, "Do you know who you're talkin' to? I'm Rainbow-fucking-Dash! I can handle anything!"

"Excellent!," he said. "Now, I have some gifts for you." He gestured to the box, before standing up. "Now, I have other business I need to attend to, but I'm sure Vexillum will arrange for you to meet with your men. Vale... Praetor."

As he left, she opened up the box. Inside, she was a little confused, as its contents appeared to be her old armor and weapons. When she removed her Linothorax, she did notice a few differences; a longer pteryges, a royal blue trim as opposed to the old blood-red, and a clasp for a cloak. Most of the rest of her armor was the same, with two new additions. Her helmet had completely changed, now a Republican type with a blue crest with red tips, forward-facing as opposed to the side-ways one of Vexillum. In addition, she also found a folded cloak, a speckled grey wolf pelt with a white linin liner on the inside. She studied the cloak, when what the Caesar said about Castus finally registered in her mind.

"Vexillum. I have my first order."

"Praetor?"

She looked at the orange Terran, her prosthetic eye' rune glowing menacingly. "I want you to find Castus. Tell him to meet me at the Fructus Parturiunt in two hours. I want to have some words with him." He saluted and turned to leave, only stopping when she said, "And tell him if he doesn't make it, I'll track him down, and make him regret he ever met me."

Next Chapter: 61~A Date (of sorts) Estimated time remaining: 4 Hours, 43 Minutes