Game of Ponies: Frozen Ashes

“Hmph… are you absolutely sure this is how you put this damned thing on?” The voice of the foreign mare echoed throughout the stone hallways, the dim light stone had torches of flickering fire making dancing shadows on the walls. Once someone would walk up the thin circular stairs they’d be greeted with yet another hallway, however, this one had elaborately decorated doors wherever the eye looks, the compartment of the royals, this stone hallway was deemed. the the largest door, at the very end of the somewhat dark hallway emanated those same sounds.

Inside, stood a mare, her mane a dark royal mauve that curls gently down her side, every part of her styled to perfection, no hair misplaced or tangled. Her smooth white coat bathed and washed every morning and night, her hooves cleaned by the finest workers in all of Esics. Along her body lay a silk spun by only the most experienced workers, its dark crimson shining in the sun beams coming through the open window of her lavish sleeping quarters. The golden pendant around her neck shimmered and flashed in the daylight, shaking side to side as one of the mares helped her tighten the gown she was putting on.

Another struggled gasp erupted from her mouth as the final knot was tied behind her, she peered calmly at her assistant who was nervous, her hooves slightly shaking as she patted down her empresses dress. As their eyes met the servant quickly looked away, almost silently apologizing for whatever she had done.

“You did wonderful Matilda, you will make a fantastic hoof.” The empress smiled at the calmed young mare who stood back up and bowed graciously. “No need to bow,” The empress lifted her hoof placing hit on the mare's cheek, “no matter the custom that you have grown used to out there,” She pointed out the window at the fast stretch of unending grassland, “we are different here, you bow to no one.”

The servant peered up at the cerulean eyes of her empress and gave a small smile, “T-thank you M…” she began, but got cut short.

“Rarity.” The empress corrected her.

“Thank you, Miss Rarity…” The servant trailed off and began scurrying away. Rarity gave a light chuckle and called out to the servant who was almost out of the room completely, “Oh and Matilda! Be a sweetheart and call in Gorin will you?” Rarity chimed.

She turned back around to the extravagant desk, full of mane products, perfumes, and materials to generally beautify any mare. She peered at the large mirror examining her image, almost unable to come up with an answer to whether she liked or disliked her appearance. She heard the sound of armored hoofsteps behind her, the same light amber stallion, with a short dark brown mane stood behind her, a scar running down across his right eye.

“M’lady.” He called out, she turned her head around and smiled warmly at him, “Come.” She replied while signaling him to step closer.

“Isn’t this just so much better than that confounded cold you dragged me into?" She asked, still smiling, "we are back in the south, in the most prospereous kingdom, why in the world would anyone like to live in those places anyway?"

"I suppose m'lady," pausing for a moment, "it had to be said." He added

She sighed and lightly nodded, "if you truly believe that then i thank you for bringing it to my attention." Rarity responded, lightly adjusting her eyelashes with a stylus and a healthy dose of her magic. An abrupt silence coated the room, but Gorin jolted forward once more and blinked a few times before sharing his news.

"We received a crow, from house Silvermane." He paused and awaited her response, she stopped coating her eyelids with light blue decorative powder, which sparkled whenever she blinked and opened her mouth for a moment before raising her head and looking at Gorin in the eye.

"What do those pathetic scoundrels need?" She asked, almost over-exaggerating her rudeness.

He reached down into his satchel and attempted to withdraw the small letter, stamped by house Silvermane, however, Rarity does it for him, using her magic to levitate it towards herself. She ripped off the seal and threw it off to the side, and spread the curled up letter, her face baring slight grin.

"Lets see..." she began, she mouthed a few of the words before speaking aloud.

The empire of Esics, we are sorry to inform you that our Lord.
Lord Ivan Silvermane of house Silvermane, sire of the north and conquerer
of the land, has passed away. His illness was quick fought, yet even our
most royal healers could not mend him. We extend our condolences, and the
title of Lord of house Silvermane will be inhereted by his eldest son, Baren
Silvermane. Praise mother earth, and praise the god of stone, ice, and
fire, may they take his soul to the realm of the Nevershred.

-Sincerly, house Silvermane

Empress Rarity stared at the letter, her smirk faded completely as she glanced at Gorin, who was giving her a slight nodded.

"Hmph" she said before gently placing the letter on the bed, "well that is quite unfortunate for them isn't it... isn't Baren that brat that started crying after the maid spilled the wine on his cheap Silvermane attire?" Rarity gave a light chuckle before returning her eyes to the mirror.

"Aye, M'lady." Gorin replied smiling, "would you like us to send them some sort of condolences? A basket of goods?" He asked.

Rarity shot a glance back at him, "why would i ever..." She began, "those forsaken ponies don't deserve a shred of pity." She responded coarsely.

"But, M'lady, we may want to start doing the art of trade with them, they may not be the most prosperous house but they have their fair share of minerals that we may come to needing."

"No, definitely not, i shall never! We are done discussing this Gorin."

" Your lust for revenge will be fulfilled M'lady, however you cannot wear it every morning, evening, and night." He stated before beginning to walk out of the room.

Rarity turned back around, "Wait Gorin." She spoke.

Gorin turned around, "Yes, M'lady?"

"How do i look?" She asked smiling running her hoof against her delicate curling mane.

Gorin stepped forward and admired his empress, the mare in front of him, exuding beauty from every pore of her body, "You are the most beautiful mare in all of the land, M'lady." He responded giving a light nod and a half-smile.

Rarity Turned back around peering at the mirror, "Why thank you Gorin, you always do have a way with words." She cooed, "It's a shame really, you being into those Stallions."

Gorin tilted his head and opened his mouth curiously, "e-excuse me, M'lady?" He asked giving a grin and taking a few steps forward.

"Oh please darling, don't be so transparent! Maybe you are the one who should not wear it every...morning, evening, and night" she gave a quiet laugh and and stepped away from the mirror.

"Are you proposing that i'm... into other stallions?" Gorin asks stepping closer to her. She turns around meeting his eyes and stepping closer to him, the light shining at the back of her head, almost making her entire body seemingly enveloped in an aura of light.

"Yes." She replied lightly leaning her face in closer to his, their muzzles only a few inches away from each other, both of them baring light grins.

"Oh yeah?" He asks teasingly.

"Yes." She responds again this time even closer.

"Good..." He begins, "If that's what i have to say for you to stop coming onto me." He responds before briskly turning around and making his way out of room. Rarity's mouth is open slightly her head tilted, and her eyes bewildered with his words ringing through her head. She steps back lightly, and begins laughing profusely at his statement, he turned around a little, laughing as well and gave a nod to her, his teeth glinting in the sunlight.

"Don't try me, darling," She responded playfully as she continued laughing. He gave her a joking salute and another nod before departing completely out of the room, leaving her alone and staring at herself in the mirror, her smile quickly fading. She looked at the doorway, and then out at bright morning sky through her window, she examined her decorative horseshoe, and then her dress. She walked over to the letter she placed on her wide, ornate, gold trimmed bed, she levitated it towards her, unrolling it once more and skimming through the words. Rolling it back up, she walked over to the window, the seemingly never ending ocean stretch in front of her, whitecaps dotting its sapphire skin. She cut her magic, letting the letter float out to the ocean, the breeze carrying it through the air. She looked back at the doorway, and then shut the window before departing.

Her gleaming blue mane blowing as bright as the fire of her heart, it's strands wisping in the non-existent wind, a haze of dark blue magic surrounding them, causing them to sparkle and glimmer wherever she was. She stood tall, taller than any of the stallions around her, her teal eyes furrowed and stern not a hint of fear around her. She donned a crown of midnight obsidian, the stone of death, reflecting not images but the shadows and lost souls. The dark blue coat she had was almost completely armored with black steel, the intricate chest plate containing a glinting white crescent moon. The length of her body decorated with streaks of steel forged by the finest captured smiths of Anvilmere.

Here flank plated by obsidian tendrils swirling around her crescent moon-shaped mark with which her entire kingdom identified her by. Levitating next to her was a pitch black blade, longer than any pony, wider than a tree trunk it's blade as her crown, reflected the oncoming death. In just seven years it has gained a name among the inhabitants of the land, Reaper, they called it, it's story spread far and wide. It not only killed the being, it tore their soul apart preventing any entrance to the afterlife. Responsible for the death of two kings and countless lords, everyone with a head on their shoulders feared this blade.

Walking only along side one other, her fearlessness was never lead by hubris, never overcome with carelessness or the craving for revenge. The emotions that drove her misunderstood by many, however, respected by all. Her enemies knew death is what they faced for crossing her, for angering the Queen of the Night.

The mare next to her, armored from head to hoof had the same unblinking expression, her coat a lighter blue, her mark a bright blue crescent with a star-tipped wand through it. The only part of her uncovered was her horn, of which was surrounded by obsidian tendrils, extending out and wrapping themselves around it. Sheathed on her back were two light obsidian short-swords, both blacker than ink.

Both of them came out onto a hill, it's edges contained large rock tusk-like statues, each one containing vines wrapped around it, with moss growing at the bottom. Around them was a view of the entire east coastline, the kingdom of Silvermane just barely visible, shrouded by the clouds.

At the center of this opening lay a stone rock, containing an indent which was stained red. The guard next to the queen shouted something out, three stallions emerged from below the hill, they were surrounding a cuffed stallion who donned a small golden crown, it's center mark was a wisp of silver flame. The stallions took him, and began leading him to the stone slab, the guard called out once more, and four other stallions emerged from below the hill, two of them were dragging along a grey stallion with a long light brown mane. The other pair of stallions were dragging along another, his mane shorter and of a lighter fade of brown, this one was not resisting, simply watching. One of the stallions, who wore a helm shaped like a crescent moon thrust the crowned stallion against the slab, placing his head in the indent.

The queen scanned the other two, each one cuffed and watching in horror as this lords head was placed on the slab, his body standing limply behind him, his eyes half open. The queen dropped the massive sword's blade on the ground, observing the two as they glanced at her slowly making her way towards the center, the blade dragging along heavily on the grass floor making a visible line. Her magic carried the hilt up until she reached the stone, then she raised it above her head once more.

"Lord Ivan Silvermane, you have violated your agreement!" She boomed, her voice echoing through the open, gloomy sky.

"STOP!" the resisting stallion yelled, he stood up limply with tears in his eyes staring at what had to be his father looking calmly at him. "Father!" He yelled out, "Stop this madness!" The son yelled out kicking his hooves against the grass.

"Silence yourself boy!" The lord bellowed at his son, exiting his calm demeanor for a moment, You will NOT taint the name of the silvermane!" The son's eyes widened as he fell to his knees, strings of tears pouring down his cheek as he examined his brother, who was standing silently, and emotionless staring at his very father's execution.

Her voice pierced the ears, sending shivers down the spines of all around her. The lord rested his head against the cold stone slab. "What be your final words, Silvermane?" She beckoned.

He looked up at the queen towering over him, Reaper levitating next to her, reflecting the dancing shadows of the dreary grey day. "You will get what's coming to you, mad queen..." He says almost in a whisper.

She raises her blade high, but gets interrupted by the weeping son, "What kind of queen performs her own executions!" He yells out, collapsing and looking down at the grass, his tears watering them.

The queen's guard steps forth, she lifted her black steel helmet from her head, revealing a light blue coat, with a lighter blue and almost milky white mane. She walked over placed her armored hoof on the stallion's chin, raising it making the stallion look directly into her lavender eyes, her gaze piercing his. "The kind who conquers your kingdom, rat." She states bluntly, before dropping his head back into the grass and beginning to walk back to her position.

""I..." the queen began, "Queen Luna, conqueror of the east, leader of the free kingdom, QUEEN OF THE NIGHT, sentence you, lord Ivan Silvermane... to death!" With a lethal downwards swing the black blade sliced through the lord's neck, his head toppling forward as his stump spewed crimson liquid across the grass. His decapitated head rolled over to his son's, one of them weeping and getting dragged away, looking at his fathers executed body getting pushed over by the guard, while the other brother just turns around and follows the other guards.

Crows flew around wildly, almost as if they signified the death of a lord. The queen turned around and began walking back from where she came, her high guard following her, their metal armor being the only thing penetrating the air. Silence, a kingdom has fallen.