Music: In the End by Linkin Park

7 years, 5 months, 1 week, and 6 days since Exile
1 year, six months, and two weeks into Unification Wars.

The war was winding down. Only a few dozen square miles of territory were unclaimed by the Pryhans, and that number was shrinking every day. Most of this land was under the control of small towns and villages, many of whom would side with the Pryhans when they arrived. Less than half a dozen gangs were left, and the last warlord was besieged. Elsewhere on the Demosian peninsula, the Provinces were already being ordered out, with elections for Consuls and Parliamentarians coming up in the next few months.

But, back to that last warlord. He was under siege, with the Caesars Honor guard attending the siege. She had received intel that the last of the gangs and the warlord's men were attempting to break the siege, and orders to come to assist. They likely couldn't break it, but the Caesar preferred to be safe than sorry. And so, here she and her men were, marching along the old road.

Well, her men were marching. She flew a lit way above the ground, Just in front of her immediate officers, including Vexillum and the units Aquilifer, Callus. Behind them, the First maniple marched, sarcina' and Lancaea slung over their shoulders as they trudged along on the remaining three legs. Their baggage train of several carts followed behind them, with a short gap between them and the next maniple. With little over two thousand Pedes, Velites, and support troops, the ground practically sung a cadence for them, making the beat laid out by shouting Centurions and pounding drums almost redundant.

Up ahead, Rainbow saw the fort the last warlord had holed himself up in. It was by far, both the most intact and most impressive fort that Rainbow had seen in the Peninsula. The crenellations on the tower were illuminated by the late afternoon sun, casting eerie shadows over the tops of the trees. As they closed the distance and the trees began to part, she caught sight of the walls. Previously, they would've been in pristine condition with carefully regimented battlements, sturdy stone-brick walls, and intervals with a heavy, swiveling scorpion ballista. At the base of the wall, save for the road leading to the gate, would be surrounded by an eight-foot deep trench, studded with heavy wooden stakes and topped with an abatis of iron spikes.

Now, however, the walls blazed with fire. Siege ladders sat with their tips in between the remaining crenellations, with Pedes attempting to force their way up past the desperate defenders. At the base of the walls, more Pedes waited for their turn to climb up the ladders, shields held up over their heads and upper backs to prevent any stray bullets, darts, or crossbow bolts from hitting them. A large group of them had formed up around a battering ram at the main gate and were attempting to knock down the portcullis and the heavy door beyond.

Rainbow turned to Vexillum, and told him, "Get the men up into the assault. Help them push them off the walls, then get the velites up on the wall to rain down javelins on them. Move it!"

Vexillum began shouting the orders to the line, who threw down their packs and hefted up their spears to advance. Meanwhile, Rainbow spread her wings and took off, heading over to Diocletian's position. He had set up on a small ledge over the road in front of the Fort, just out of range of the enemy crossbows, along with the other regimental officers and a group of his honor guards and the Praetors Praetorians. He smiled as she landed, saying, "Ave, Praetor Dash. A pleasure to see you again."

"Ave, Caesar," she said back, giving him a salute. "Likewise, Caesar. My men are joining the assault. They should be enough to overrun them with the rest of your honor guard and... which one is it again? The 29th?"

"The 21st, actually."

"Cool. In any case, it should be enough." Rainbow took time to just look at the wall, as her men joined the group of Pedes that moved even closer to taking the wall and destroying the gate. Then, Rainbow heard a faint noise behind them. "Yo, did any of you hear-"

Suddenly, about one and a half dozen raiders ran out of the woods, screaming at the top of their lungs. The guards in the back barely had time to turn before they slammed into them, swinging with clubs and maces. The rest turned around, drawing curved swords or leveling spears as they exchanged blows.

Rainbow took to the air, swooping down at one of them, swing her blades. The swords cut open his exposed neck, and the brigand crumpled to the ground. She then switched her grip on the short sword, thrusting the blade into the back of one's head. She used her speed in the air to pull the blade free, spinning in a corkscrew as she cleaved into another's exposed head. Rainbow would later marvel at how similar stunt flying and her fighting style was; it gave her an idea she wanted to try out if she ever got the chance to.

However, that wasn't now. The rest of the brigands were cut down by the sickle swords of the officers or the spears of the guards. Even Caesar Diocletian struck one down, using the curve of the blade to slide it around his armor and stab him in the side. By that point, the wall had fallen, and night had fallen. The field fell silent, save for the crackling of fires, the whistling of the wind, and the moans of the wounded.

The next day saw the enemy falling back into the central Principia. The two regiments and the honor guard flooded into any open area of the old fort, completely cutting off any retreat. Early in the morning, one of the warlord's soldiers yelled down from the Principia, telling them that the warlord wanted to surrender. He would emerge from the Principia at noon, unarmed, and would officially surrender.

As told he would, the warlord exited the large building at noon, unarmed and wearing his helmet and armor. The Via Praetoria, the central road down from the main gate of the camp, was lined with Pryhan soldiers standing at attention. At the far end, on a raised platform, Caesar Diocletian, Rainbow Dash, and all the other immediate officers stood, while Diocletian sat in a tall backed chair. He walked solemnly down the hard-packed road, past the stiff Pryhan soldiers, coming to a stop before the Caesar.

He said, "Caesar Diocletian, of the Pryhan Empire. If I do this, will none of my men be harmed?"

The Caesar gestured to Rainbows Aquilifer, who lowered the eagle tipped staff. "Yes. I assure you, no harm will befall you or any of your men if you submit. Kiss the eagle; save yourself and your men from bloodshed. Render, unto, Pryha."

Without hesitation, he took off his helmet, throwing it at the foot of the raised platform. He then knelt and kissed the tip of the eagle staff. After a second, he pulled away, head still bowed, and stole a look up at the Caesar. Next to her, the other Praetor drew his curved sword, Raising it into the air as he bellowed, "PRYHA! PRYHA!" The cheer was taken up by the other Pedes and soldiers in earshot, which quickly spread to all of them at the fort, including herself. Spears banging on the ground, the cheer of jubilation echoed across the trees and nearby mountains and rocks; "PRYHA! PRYHA! PRYHA!"