Where the sun doesn't shine.

Chapter 3: Where the people won't unite

"Atticus, prepare a map of Cabalderio at once."

"Yes sir."

Atticus left the governor’s office, which now belonged to the Terran, looking for the map. The Terran was sitting in his chair with his hand over his mouth covered by his scarf. Once Atticus returned and laid the map over the desk he spent a minute or two just looking at it; then he laid back and smiled behind his scarf.

"May I know what you are planning, sir?"

"Remember how you said that all the cities in Cabalderio were independent? How none of them shared a link of unity, how it’s each for themselves?"

"You aren't planning on conquering them...right?"

"Yes I am. From where I come from, such thing as this situation is just a recipe for disaster. The fact that all of these cities aren't united means that none can push their power to their limit, but under a single flag..."

"...what is needed by one will be supplied by the other..."

"Prepare a force to escort me to the nearest city, they still don't know what a Terran is, and if I go alone...I don't know if they have more chairs to throw to my face. Once the force is ready send them to the main gate."

"Of course, sir."

Both of them went their separate ways, Atticus to ask the military commander for an escort, and the Terran to pick up his rifle and wait by the gates which were constructed under his management. After a while, a detachment of Stallinox's best soldiers, supply carriers and Atticus marched towards the gate where the Terran was resting against the wall.

"Here you have them, sir. It's strange to believe that before you arrived this would only be achievable by the union of all Cabalderio..."

"And now, my objective is to unite it all. Isn't fate funny? Gentlecolts, we march now to the city of Hestjord. They don't know what I am so expect anything. MOVE!"

The hooves of the detachment echoed as they marched. Days and nights passed as a Terran led the Stallinoxians to the city he planned to annex into his territory. They didn't know what to expect, since Hestjord knew nothing about a Terran. They might think he's just a talking animal and not worry about him much, but they might also think that he's a demon from the pits of hell coming to kill them all.

Days of marching would pass until the city could be seen in the distance, and after even more walking they reached it; the city had no gates, so they could enter normally. As the detachment and the Terran walked past the buildings, everypony in sight was shaking in fear and wondering what they might do there.

After marching through the city they arrived at the city hall, the detachment waited outside while the Terran and 4 escorts went inside.

"What's the meaning of th--" The governor was cut short by the sight of 4 heavily armoured ponies and the Terran. His eyes widened in both shock and fear.

"I apologise for my sudden arrival...But I have matters to discuss with the governor. I take it that's you?"

The governor, still petrified, nodded.

"I see. There is no reason to fear me, I haven't arrived with intentions to harm you or your people. All the contrary, I seek to help you, but that's only achievable if you help us first..."

"I-I understand...Uhh...P-p-please take a s-seat..."

The Terran complied and sat in a big table that seemed to be used for discussions. The governor was yet still petrified, and waited for the Terran to speak first.

"I come on behalf of Stallinox. First, I'd like to state my long-term objectives. I seek the unification of Cabalderio under a single banner under my command. That means that I wish for this city to be annexed, so let's hear your opinion."

The governor's mind state turned from fear to anger as he pictured the city he worked for losing its independence. Suddenly and violently he stood up and yelled.

"You really think I'd give our independence to a...whatever you are?!"

The four guards escorting the Terran began to unsheathe their swords, but stopped as the one they were escorting raised his hand.

"Before you throw me a chair to the face, let us think for a moment. I come from Stallinox, and needless to say I govern that city. I assume you know in what state that city was before I appeared, since it was the same as this. Now it's one of the most important cities in Cabalderio. If you don't believe you can go outside this building and check for yourself what 'Escort' means in Stallinox standards."

The sceptical governor narrowed his eyes and stared at the Terran for a moment before letting out a sigh and walking to the doors, the Terran following him with his eyes. He opened the door and looked outside, and almost instantly closed the doors again before slowly walking towards the chair he sat before; all with a pale, almost white skin. As he was walking back, the Terran could barely contain his laugher.

"So, governor, isn't that enough proof? Don't fear for your city, I'm not the kind of man who doesn't care about the rest of his empire. I'll make Hestjord thrive just like Stallinox...You may also stay as the governor of this town, in condition that you learn our ways."

"...I accept your terms and conditions...What else do we have to do?"

"Just a single thing..." The Terran stood up from his chair and ordered the guards to stay inside as he walked outside. As soon as he got out he stood next to the door searching with his eyes a supply carrier which held the item he was looking for. Once he found it he walked up to him and took a piece of cloth out of the large bag. He stretched it to make sure it was the one he was looking for, and upon confirming it, returned to the city hall where the governor waited for him.

"Governor, this is the flag of my empire." He laid the piece of cloth on the table. It was solid red coloured, and had a white hollow shield with a white star inside. "I think you understand where I'm heading with this..."

"Y-yes, I do sir..."

The Terran and his escorts began to leave the building...

"Wait!"

"What is it, Governor?"

"Just...What are you?"

A silence claimed the city hall. After that, the Terran smiled behind his scarf.

"I'm a Terran, that's all you need to know." He said, as the doors closed before him.

They returned to Stallinox, victorious that a city was annexed into their empire. As they reached the gates they were greeted by the guards already using the flag on their lances, every building had them somewhere, and the city hall...It was removed. Removed to leave place to an expansion of the city that would include an entire castle as the Terran's permanent residence. This is what Stallinox became, the capital of the Terran Empire.

Years passed, and every settlement in the region of Cabalderio was annexed into the Terran Empire. Those who did not agree with the initial deal were presented with an embargo, and if it failed, a siege. Nopony ever kept defending after being presented with the siege, so the complete annexation of Cabalderio was bloodless. Every city and town thrived and expanded incredibly, Cabalderio would even rival Equestria in overall status.

"My emperor, there is a unicorn who wishes to see you; she goes by the name of 'Twilight Sparkle'. What seems to be a baby dragon named 'Spike' comes with her."

The Terran was sitting on his throne, with left hand on his head and his legs crossed when he heard the guard as he arrived from outside the castle.

"Let them pass!"

The spears were lifted and the doors opened as a hooded unicorn and the mentioned dragon walked through the door.

"Twilight Sparkle and Spike! Wait...shouldn't you both be purple, pink and green instead of entirely...grey?"