Child of the Moon

The strangest Reinforcements in Roman Military History

We were, without a doubt, the strangest reinforcements in Roman military history.  Hazel rode Arion, who had recovered enough to carry one person at normal horse speed.  Frank transformed into a bald eagle and soared above us.  Tyson ran down the hill, waving his club.

Tyson: Bad pony men!  BOO!

Ella fluttered around him, reciting facts from the Old Farmer's Almanac.  As for Percy and Zoe, they rode Mrs. O'Leary into battle with a chariot full of Imperial gold equipment clanking behind.  I ran alongside them, the golden eagle standard of the Twelfth Legion raised above me.  We skirted the perimeter of the camp and took the northern most bridge over the Little Tiber, charging onto the Field of Mars at the western edge of the battle.  A horde of Cyclopes was hammering away at the campers of the Fifth Cohort, who were trying to keep their shields locked just to stay alive.  Seeing them in trouble, I felt a surge of protective rage.  These were the kids who'd taken Percy, Zoe, and I in.  This was our family.

YN: Fifth Cohort!

Mrs. O'Leary slammed into the nearest Cyclops.  The last things the poor monsters saw were Mrs. O'Leary's teeth.  After the Cyclopes had disintegrated, and stayed disintegrated, thanks to Thanatos, Percy leapt off Mrs. O'Leary and the two of us slashed wildly through the other monsters.  Tyson charged at the Cyclops leader, Ma Gasket, her chain mail dress spattered with mud and decorated with broken spears.  She stared at Tyson in shock.

Ma Gasket: Who-

Tyson hit her in the head so hard, she spun in a circle and landed on her rump.

Tyson: Bad Cyclops Lady!  General Tyson says GO AWAY!

He hit her again, and Ma Gasket broke into dust.  Meanwhile Hazel charged around on Arion, slicing her spatha through one monster after another, while Frank blinded the enemies with his talons.  Once every monster within fifty yards had been reduced to ashes, Frank landed in front of his troops and transformed into a human.  His centurion's badge and Mural Crown gleamed on his winter jacket.

Frank: Fifth Cohort!  Get your Imperial gold weapons right here!

The campers recovered from their shock and mobbed the chariot.  Percy did his best to hand out equipment quickly.

Dakota: Let's go, let's go!

Dakota was grinning like a madman as he swigged red Kool-Aid from his flask.

Dakota: Our comrades need help!

Soon the Fifth Cohort was equipped with new weapons and shields and helmets.  They weren't exactly consistent.  In fact they looked like they'd been shopping at a King Midas clearance sale.  But they were suddenly the most powerful cohort in the legion.

Frank: Follow the eagle!  To battle!

The campers cheered.  As Percy and I charged onward, the entire cohort followed.  Forty extremely shiny gold plated warriors screaming for blood.  We slammed into a herd of wild centaurs that were attacking the Third Cohort.  When the campers of the Third saw the eagle standard I was carrying, they shouted insanely and fought with renewed effort.  The centaurs didn't stand a chance.  The two cohorts crushed them like a vise.  Soon there was nothing left but piles of dust and assorted hooves and horns.  I hoped Chiron would forgive me, but these centaurs weren't like the Party Ponies.  They were some other breed.  They had to be defeated.

Dakota: Form ranks!

The two cohorts came together, their military training kicking in.  Shields locked, and they marched into battle against the Earthborn.

Frank: Pila!

A hundred spears bristled.

Frank: Fire!