An Equestrian Odyssey

7 Insipientiam est ex patre

Emperor Severus Opifex sat upon his golden throne, his forearms cradled by the silver plated foreleg bones of an alicorn’s skeleton which wrapped around the throne in such a way as to suggest whomever sat on it’s crimson cushion was wearing the plated bones. The skull had been cut so that only the top half remained, sitting like a crown atop the Emperor’s head only with his own horn slid in place of the skull’s original horn. The wing bones had been drilled so black iron feathers could be fitted to them, and the wings then spread out behind the throne as if they were spread to glide.

The Emperor’s throne room was empty of everypony besides himself. In his left hoof he held a silver grail of wine which he sipped at slowly while reading from a large black leather book. He had penned the book himself many years ago, back when he could still remember it’s contents by heart. These years later he could only remember the most basic of principles the book had to offer, to continue his conquests he often had to refresh his memory on the strategies offered within the pages of his version of the Codex Astartes.

This was the second copy of the book he had ever written. The first time was long ago, back when he was still a growing child, each and every entry in the book written as he found it to be useful in what had then been a strategy game. When he had later grown up and joined the military of his homeland he had kept adding to the book, adapting it’s strategies for actual combat and continuing to add new ones, always wondering what he could accomplish as the head of a real legion. When he had been chosen to be a part of the Clandestine Service, he had added psychological warfare and espionage techniques to the book’s pages. Who knew that later in his life a book of military strategies which had won him countless tournaments would prove to be the source of his military's unstoppable power?

Recreating the book had been one of the hardest challenges of his life, and the Emperor knew for a fact that his ‘second edition’ was missing some information from the first, but it hardly mattered. Now he was the Emperor, the undisputed master strategist who had won 57 wars to date and this was his playbook. Every guideline for forming a proper Imperial Legion, every single organizational structure of a Space Marine Legion, notes on the physiological processes to mold minds to the desired loyalty and fierceness such armies required. Detailed battle plans, tactics, and policies for war in everything from urban environments, to tropical jungles, and even theoretical tactics for zero gravity combat. Notes on the magic available to ponies, their physical capabilities, sociological structures, psychological make up, everything of value went into the Codex.

It was all here, everything he needed to win war number 58. All the Emperor needed to do was find the proper information within the Codex and put it together into a single Stratagem for conquering Amazonia. Unfortunately the process eluded him. Something felt amiss, and had for the last day. Whatever was wrong in his Imperium the Emperor’s magic could not quite detect it.

One of the first things the Emperor had done during his reign was to create a social network spell which connected everypony in his Imperium with a low level magic field. The spell alerted him to strong emotions of large groups of ponies at all times, allowing him to crush dissenters when their movements grew to large. When he was in close proximity he could learn of every single emotional attachment to others a pony had and manipulate those attachments as he saw fit, allowing him to control others directly when needed. Causing a son to hate their father had many political benefits. There were downsides to this spell of course, it would only work while he was within his Imperium, and sustaining it’s evil magic required the sacrifices of three score newborn foals each month. But to a pony with the resources of the Emperor, utter lack of compassion, and belief that all those in this world were simply tools to be used these were not problems, only slight disadvantages.

The spell also allowed him to do one more thing, he could draw upon the magic essences of the ponies within the spell’s effect. To the Emperor the ponies of his Imperium were his soldiers, his mages, or his spell battery. The strength of all his Earth Ponies, the flight of all his Pegasi, the magic of all his Unicorns, all of it was energy for him to use as he willed. So what was this nagging unknown which plagued his mind? There was no groups of would be rebels of any size worth acting against yet, nothing was blocking his ability to draw on the four sources of magic at his hooves. His lips parted in a frown Four sources?

This was it, this was what that little nagging problem was. A new source of magic. He closed his eyes and focused on the new unfamiliar magical essence. There was only the tiniest bit of it, a single spark from a single individual. Creativity… This essence is creativity, enhanced to the point of being truly magical. No breed of pony possesses such creativity. What sort creature has entered my Imperium?

The essence was so faint the Emperor knew it would take a sizable portion of his magic and his spell battery to identify the source. There was no sense in depleting it so needlessly. A single individual would be no match for a legion, no matter how creative. The Emperor reached for his scrying gem, frowning as it pulsed gold before he touched it. Someone was calling him.

Picking up the gem in his hoof the Emperor sent a magic pulse through the gem, allowing the pony attempting to contact him to begin speaking. A projection of a familiar pony appeared above the gem bowing low as the projection appeared, “Ah, Commissar Ironhide. Arize. Amusingly enough, I was moments away from contacting you.”

The Commissar nodded grimly, “Your grace, I have vital news concerning the Imperium, but should you require my services I will happily await my turn to speak.”

He thought for a moment before giving his Commissar a wave of the hoof, “If it is vital intelligence I would hear it first. I only desire your assistance with a curiosity of mine.”

“As you wish your grace.” The Commissar took a deep breath, “Sire, I, Prefect “Ironhide” Strike, Commissar of the Fifth Imperial Legion hereby formally accuse your son and heir Prince Bluesteel of High Treason in the form of contacting, and then deploying a squad of your Adeptus Equus on a mission of personal nature to his highness.”

The Emperor’s eyes narrowed, his mouth corners formed a cruel expression unique to him and him alone, “This is a serious accusation. I trust you Ironhide, you have served me well. Well enough that I can be certain you would not dare lie to me.”

“Sire, I have a task force of legionnaires who are eyewitnesses to their deployment. I myself also witnessed their arrival and spoke with the sergeant of the four pony squad.”

“Tell me everything.” The Emperor’s eyes began to radiate malice.

As the Commissar relayed the day’s events his expression grew more and more wicked. But the Commissar's final remarks provoked a little intrigue. “Did you say the slave is traveling with a human?”

“Yes sire, I did. The legion uniform I gave the slave will allow us to keep an eye on her. I decided it wise to allow them to go free, I believe the human might have allies in the area. Allies which the Equus your son deployed will slaughter preventing us from learning how they survived the eon since their alleged extinction and see if they are a military threat to the Imperium.”

“Commissar, I require you to remain where you are. I will call you back after confirming your report with Zealous Doom. If my son has indeed ordered my Equus into the field, I will order them to abandon their current mission and inform my son of my policies for traitors to my crown.”

Commissar Ironhide bowed low, “Sire I have not lied to you… May I contact the palace and evacuate my legionnaires?”

“You may. There is no sense in wasting good soldiers. You are dismissed for the moment.” The Emperor broke the gem’s connection, and quickly sent a fresh pulse of magic through it.

Within seconds the armored face of his Chapter Master unfolded into view before him, “My Emperor, I gleefully await your command!”

“I have a question for you Master Doom. Did you deploy a squad of my Equus on my son’s orders?”

“No sire I did not.” Doom replied instantly, “While your son did request a squad of Equus they were deployed on your standing orders to destroy any and all encountered light magic users found within the Imperium. The prince reported a slave of his attacked him using light magic during her escape. He then cited the Imperial Law where the standing orders are written and in accordance with that law I tasked a squad to hunt her down and put an end to the nuisance of light magic.”

The Emperor’s face grew a blank expression, “I see. Master Doom, I know the slave of which you speak. The only magic at her disposal is dark magic, I know as I am the one who allowed her to keep a spellbook for my own amusement. Furthermore my Grand Warlock has requested that particular slave be delivered to him alive as she is the component of a magic ritual. The squad’s orders are hereby rescinded.”

“Yes sire, I shall recall them at once.”

“No Doom, they have work to do.”

“Sire?”

“Bluesteel has committed an act of High Treason. He is to be given a traitor’s death at the hooves of the Equus he put into the field.”

Doom nodded, “By your command my Emperor.”

Doom’s projection vanished as the Chapter Master went to send a message to his ponies. The Emperor sat back in his throne, took a sip of his wine, then called Commissar Ironhide once more. “It seems you were correct.” The Emperor said to the bowing pony.

“I am sorry your son must die sire.” Iornhide replied with minimal remorse.

“Commissar, you are mistaken. I have never had a son.” The Emperor informed, his tone conveying absolutely no emotion, but his enraged eyes telling Ironhide the prince’s very existence was to be purged from Imperial records.

“My apologies, forgive an old soldier for a minor mistake.”

“You are forgiven. Now, Commissar, I require the magical signature of the armor you gave to the slave. I believe this human is precisely what I was going to request you search for earlier this day.”

Commissar Ironhide quickly rattled off the multipart spell signature which would allow the armor to be scryed. “Do you wish for my men to remain in the field to track the human sire?”

“No. I will take care of this matter myself. As your you Commissar, I have no idea what I was thinking. I have kept you in active service far too long for a pony of your age. I understand there is a ruined palace nearby. It’s lands and grounds are now yours to do with as you will. I desire you to remain there as the local Governor. Your first assignment will be to raise and train a legion for jungle fighting and dispatch it to the Amarezon front.”

The Commissar saluted, “Yes my Emperor. I will move my legion in within the week and begin at the first opportunity.”

“I will have a messenger deliver all the necessary papers within the month. You are dismissed.”

The Commissar's projection vanished. The Emperor finished his goblet of wine and set the empty vessel down on a small table next to his throne. He closed the Codex and set it on the table as well. You were a foolish waste of time Bluesteel. The hours and gold put into you, all for naught. My first child would have been far more suited to inherit my Imperium.

It always irritated the Emperor when one of his plans failed, with as long term of a plan as the prince had been this failure drove him to anger. The sort of anger in which he enjoyed reveling in his own power. Why simply scry on this human when instead I could send a projection of myself and make her tell me everything I want to know?

The Emperor closed his eyes and began to prepare the spell he would need to use for this afternoon’s entertainment. The spell’s energy gathered, slowly shaped, and was cast. The Emperor opened his eyes, seeing the world through the avatar of golden light he had created. His eyes widened in shock, his face contorted with mixtures of joy, madness, fear, love, and hatred, “Y-you!”

~~

Charlotte dropped to her knees at the foot of a cedar tree. Her chest heaved as she did her best to try and get air into her lungs. I have never, ever, ever, run this much in my life before… My everything hurts… Why did I come here?

Rare stopped, hearing the underbrush crack as Charlotte dropped. Looking over her shoulder she dropped as well, “I… yeah… we need to rest.”

Charlotte nodded, she was pretty sure she couldn’t stand up again if someone put a gun to her head. “Food… food good.” She mumbled, reaching for her pack first with her ruined arm, then the other. Moving felt like there was five pounds of lead on every part of her body. It took Charlotte ages to get her pack open, almost as long to rifle through the pack and get out her canteen and an MRE. “Crap… stupid bag is vacuum sealed.”

“What?” Rare groaned, the mare only had the energy to keep her left eye open just barely enough to see any of it’s green hue.

“Food… in bag. Too tired to open.” Charlotte replied deciding to simply fall over onto her side.

“Oh.” Rare groaned loudly as she stretched her legs out in front of and behind her body.

I wish I had the energy to do that. Charlotte blinked, eyelids feeling heavier than they had ever before. Yeah… sleep… Sleep good. She rambled to herself, too exhausted and hungry to even think coherently.

Charlotte was just about to close her eyes and let exhaustion take her when a patch of golden light shimmered a few yards in front of her vision. A nagging feeling at the back of her mind told her that this was important, summoning up every last reserve of strength she had Charlotte forced her eyes open to see what this patch of gold was. It looked much like an object slowly forming out of light. “Hey… Rare….”

“Nnn… sleep now.” Rare moaned.

“Rare… golden… shiny… light… thing…” Charlotte managed to gasp out between labored breaths. Something about the light patch was just, wrong. The shape forming from it was unfamiliar and yet she felt she knew it. The tiny drops of adrenaline Charlotte had left started to course through her system as panic slowly set in.

Rare opened one eye, the honey colored orb scanning around before focusing on what appeared to be a unicorn made of gold light. “Oh…” Rare almost closed her eye ignoring the ghostly image, but suddenly her other eye shot open, “bucking tartarus!”

“What?” Charlotte asked sitting up, her body trembling with fear, exhaustion, and the dregs of adrenaline left in her system.

Rare gulped and nodded towards the now nearly finished projection, a mostly translucent image of a somewhat normal unicorn male made from gold light, “Magical projection… that’s the emperor.”

Charlotte found she couldn't even collapse, the little energy she had left had been used in those simple actions. The guy who owns the army we are running from can just magically appear in front of us when he wants to. “Well, we’re boned.”

The Emperor’s projection’s eyes snapped open, immediately taking in Charlotte’s messy, damaged, stressed body. She felt as if those eyes saw her and only her, and as the projection’s face contorted under an onslaught of every emotion from joy and love to hate and fear Charlotte felt as if she recognized those eyes. The Projection of the Emperor took a step towards her, exclaiming a single word, “Y-you!”

Charlotte blinked in a mixture of confused fear, Rare looked over at her equally at a loss.

The Emperor took another step towards Charlotte, beginning to ramble in a wavering voice “H-how are you here? You shouldn’t be here! I am the only real thing here! No one else should be here! This is… but… I…”

“W..what?” Charlotte managed to croak.

“No, no It all makes sense! He was wrong about everything but it all makes sense that families end up together. Pastors preach so many things that one of them has to be correct out of pure chance right?” The projection’s face started to contort, the left eye twitching slightly, the right ear drooping just as the Emperor laughed, a mad cackle of glee which turned into an enraged growl as the Emperor’s projection displayed a sudden blind rage, “That fucking cunt! You are here because she kept you in New York after I died! It was all in my will, there was the money for a house upstate…”

Charlotte’s eyes grew wide, her mind simply unable to process what she was seeing. Is… is this my dad?

Rare slowly attempted to pull herself to her hooves, she had never seen the Emperor in anything other than a collected calm state. She knew the power he held within his hooves, the gods only knew what he might do in a rage. “Ch-Char… we… run!” She groaned as she managed to get her forehooves under her.

The projection’s face calmed for a second, the rage returning as the Emperor saw Charlotte’s missing left hand. “She made you stay in that city of scum and they mutilated you… If that bitch joins us when she dies I will tear her apart atom by atom and scatter her remains to the ends of time!” He stepped closer to Charlotte with a concerned look on his face, “It’s ok Char, daddy’s here… and here daddy is god! Nothing can hurt you again. It’s just you and me and an entire reality as a playground for any desire you may have.”

“B-but… you’re dead!” Charlotte whispered, “I-I’m not dead… I got here with magic. I’m alive… aren't I?”

“Of course I am dead, this is clearly the afterlife. Magic, fantastical scenarios, and the second I open my eyes after the explosion a warlock offers me rule of an Empire. Although…” The Emperor frowned, “You shouldn’t be in that mortal body. I awoke as I am now… It is not fitting for the daughter of a god to have no magic of her own.”

Rare finally managed to stand up looking at Charlotte in desperation she hissed, “He’s gone insane, run!” as she slowly stumbled a few paces away before collapsing.

The Emperor’s projection flared a blinding gold as a blaze of magical energy surged from the projection, washing over Charlotte. Rare screamed, feeling some of her own energy being ripped from the pitiful remainder she had left and flowing to the spell. She collapsed to the forest floor, barely breathing.

“Don't worry Char, I’ll fix everything! You;ll see, it will all be perfect! I’ll make you a unicorn, just like me. You will have magic at your disposal for all your wants and desires everything you ...could...ever…” The energy coalescing over Charlotte stopped dead for a moment as the projection frowned, “I gave that waste of time magic… he squandered it. Perhaps… Yes… You will have to earn magic. It’s for the best. But I can’t let my only daughter be some mundane dirt farmer! It’s a pegasi’s body for you dear, and one day I’ll give you magic. We have eternity here, you have to be worthy of it one day!”

Charlotte tried to scream but nothing came out. She saw the energy surrounding her slowly dissolving her body, her remaining hand simply erased before her very eyes. Even more pain washed over her body, she felt the skin above her shoulder blades split as her forming wing bones ripped their way wetly from her back.

“I’m sorry dear, i know it hurts but I’m not there in person. I can’t take away the pain this time. But if any little thing is wrong I will fix it and it won't hurt. You will be perfect… W-why can’t I fix your hand? Char… I…. I can’t give you a left hand. W-we need something to replace it. Yes, what is here that can become an even better hoof?”

Charlotte squirmed in blazing agony as her bones warped, shrank and split forming new joints. Tendons and muscles writhed under her skin as they adjusted. Her left eye went dark as she saw the contents of her pockets and backpack slowly float through the air in front of her father's projection. Each item was casually dropped after inspection until Charlotte’s blaster levitated in front of the projection.

“What’s this? My daughter has a Laspistol?” he laughed a wicked, joyous, bemused laugh, “I see you are a girl after my own heart, this looks home made… and… real.” The Emperor’s magic pushed against the blaster’s trigger, and his face split into a wicked grin as the energy beam lanced out, blasting a limb from a tree, “Technology has really advanced since my rebirth as Emperor… Did you make this yourself Char? Such a lovely instrument of death! You must take after me and not that cunt… Yes this will do. This way you will always be armed, as befitting my daughter.”

The blaster disintegrated in a flash of gold light which lept to Charlotte’s twisting form, moving to the end of her left foreleg and fuzing to it, solidifying as an articulated bronze forearm, knee, and fetlock. Charlotte barely had time to see the iris like aperture form on the bottom of what was now her left forehoof shape itself into existence before she simply couldn't take the quite literally skull melting pain. She toppled over, consciousness fading as her father's last words echoed in her ears as if shouted down a tunnel, “I know this will be hard for you to accept dear so feel free to roam my Imperium. Whenever you have accepted your afterlife come and join me at my palace. We have an eternity to enjoy my perfect daughter.”

~~

Iron Night flew just over the treetops skimming the tops of the trees randomly as a sort of game. The objective being see just how close she could get to touching a tree without actually touching it. Of course her other objective was to avoid her cousin who she had promised she would help repair their ranch’s northern pasture’s fence. Since this part of the Dusk Wood was a full five leagues from Namareus and the ranch was clear on the other side of town from the woods she was fairly certain she was doing a great job.

She saw an especially leafy tree ahead, right on the edge of a thinner stand of trees. Her blue eyes narrowed, slate grey wings pulled back for a dive, her straw colored mane and tail trailed after her as she flew right for the tree’s crown of leaves. What the hay is that?

Iron pulled up at the last minute, through the trees ahead she could see a blazing gold unicorn standing over two unconscious mares, and one was dressed in a battered legion uniform. Oh buck! Some bandit just jumped somepony with a legion escort!

Iron pulled back, hovering above the treetop for a few moments as she did her best to figure out what she could do to help. Ok, he’s covered in some sort of mage armor but maybe if I put a lightning bolt right in his face I can swoop in and… umm… Her thought was cut off as the gold figure simply vanished as if somepony had blown out a candle. Ok… I guess I had better make sure they are ok.

Iron dropped down to the forest floor, landing directly beside the grey-white pegasus. She noticed that the unconscious mare was laying in the center of a large group of random objects, many of which looked arcane in nature. I guess she was transporting magical equipment to a legion camp. Iron thought as she carefully brushed aside the mare’s blue-black yellow highlighted mane to see if she was breathing. “Well you’re alive… and pretty cute.” The buck is that junk on your leg? she wondered eyeing the bronze artificial hoof.

Iron grinned for a moment before shaking the naughty thoughts from her head, No bad Iron… They need help. That can come later. She trotted over to the legionnaire, and was just about to check the mares dusty orange coat for any wounds when she moaned, rolling onto her side. “Ok, you are alive too… I’ll need to get help. Ah hay… I’ll need to explain to cuz why I want fixing the fence. You two are lucky you are both cute or I would probably just leave you here.”

Snapping her wings open Iron took to the air and winged her way east towards the village and he cousin's ranch, coming up with an excuse as she went.

~~

Rare rolled over, her face smooshing against something soft. Something incredibly soft. Wah? She hissed as tiny aches rippled through her body, but determined to see what was so soft. Her mismatched eyes slowly peeled open showing her a view of white linen, “A pillow?” She questioned sitting up as much as she could before a sudden throbbing pain in her rear right leg forced her to fall back against the pillow. “OW!” Well at least I get a pillow. That’s pretty awesome.

Rare took a look around the room she was in. Wooden rafters formed a sort of large triangular room, the floor looked a bit slap dash, planks were simply laid down forming a few places to walk and some patches of floor where her bed, another bed and a large number of crates, barrels and a few chests were arranged. Deciding she was in an attic somewhere Rare turned her attention to the other bed and the pegasus resting in it.

“Hey… hey you. Miss, wake up please.” Rare called as loudly and gently as her aching body would allow. Noticing the mare’s blue-black mane stir as she called Rare continued, “Please, I don’t know where I am.”

The mare moved her hooves up to her ears, Rare couldn't help but notice that the left one appeared to be made from Bronze. “I don’t know Rare… Now shut up my head feels like that time I drank half a bottle of wine…” she moaned.

Rare blinked in surprise, her lips pursing for a moment. That voice was, “Wait… Charlotte? Is that you?”

“Duh! Are you blind or somth- Oh. Right. Now I remember…” Charlotte pushed herself up off the bed with her forelegs, her bright gold eyes opening as she looked at her hooves. “My dead psychotic dad turned me into a pegasi…”

Rare gasped as she saw Charlotte’s new face. She had a kind but determined sort of look to her, but most importantly anypony who had seen the Emperor would definitely see a family resemblance. But her eyes, they blazed with an inner light like his did. Charlotte’s eyes were the exact same golden reflective hue as the Emperor.

Charlotte looked over at Rare, frowning gently, “Am I really dead? Are you like a figment of my imagination or something?”

I what? Why would she, Rare gave the ex-human the most incredulous look she had ever given anypony, “What the flying buck are you talking about?”

“My dad should be dead… That was my dad. It was his voice, how he talked, he recognized me… But he’s dead. He was blown up at a lab at Hancock AFB… They never told us what exploded…” Charlotte’s eyes grew wide as she remembered, “But they didn’t give us a body either! They said he was vaporized.”

I wish I had been conscious when the Emperor was talking to her, this would be so much easier to understand… “I don’t understand…” Rare informed.

“How long has the Emperor ruled here?”

“Umm… I don’t know. At least as long as I have been alive. So at least 18 years.”

Charlotte frowned, her wings fluttered in thought causing her to jump, “Ah! What was-oh. My wings. I have wings… That’s awesome!” She grinned widely for a moment before her ears fell, “Ok back on track. If he’s been here more than 6 years he cant be my dad. But he was so close to him it’s… Is time travel possible with magic?”

Rare nodded, “Yes when the draconequus dropped you off he went two years into the past to make up for lost time. So it’s possible to travel in time with magic. If you are basically a god.”

“Well… In theory it’s also possible if you move through a wormhole. Maybe the explosion somehow carried him here in the past and…” Charlotte stopped talking and sighed, “You know what, It’s not important. All I need to know is that the Emperor of this place is completely crazy, I am apparently his daughter, or at least he think’s I am, and I am possibly dead.”

“Charlotte, you are not dead. If this was the afterlife, why would I have existed before meeting you? We could find books of Imperial history going back two thousand years if we were in a city. I don’t think your imagination could make up that much stuff.” Rare groaned, “Besides even if this was an afterlife, you are alive in it. You lost an arm, we ran till it hurt, there is no pain in Elysium and while Tartarus is all about torment it doesn't look like this.”

Charlotte hummed, “Good point… Ok so this is either an afterlife which is just another life, or an a parallel dimension.”

“It’s not an after life.”

“So I’m alive.”

“Yes!”

“And my dad is somehow here and thinks he’s dead and this is his personal playground of an afterlife?”

Rare nodded, “Yes. Oh… That really makes a lot of sense. I-I met him once. He uses ponies like toys and doesn't care if they… I saw him make his son kill a warlock because he was bored.”

Charlotte winced. “Wow… Ok let me try and process this. My dad was involved in a lab accident that teleported him here, turned him into a unicorn, apparently some warlock decided to crown him Emperor for some reason, and he thinks he’s dead and this is all something he dreamed up so he rules the land with an iron fist-Hold on was that officer called a Commissar?”

Rare nodded a bit confused, “Yes. He’s the fifth Commissar of the Imperial Legions.”

Charlotte facehoofed, the bronze hoof twacking into her forehead looked rather painful, “Ow… Ok so my dad turned an entire nation into one giant Warhammer game. That is so him.”

“What’s Warhammer?”

“Oh. It’s a game, you have a little army of tiny figures and using a set of rules and dice you battle other people little armies. It’s a war simulation game. I used to play it with him, he really loved the Blood Angels- they are one of the armies you could play as.”

The Emperor is ruling the entire land as if it were some game? Rare was at a loss for words. She slumped down in the bed, “We need to get out of here… I still have to take you to Equestria and apparently our Emperor is insane.”

Charlotte nodded, “Yeah… So quick question. Whose house are we in?”

“I have no idea. What are we going to tell them? We are on the run from the Emperor, I can’t imagine he want’s to let his daughter just wander about. We need… what’s it called when you make up a fake identity? We will need one for you. You look just like the Emperor.”

“I do? Crap… Ummm… Well whoever found us knows you are in a Legion uniform. I’m not so they probably thought you were escorting me.”

Rare nodded, “Yes. That means whoever you pretend to be, you have to be important.”

“What about a rich merchant’s daughter?”

“That works… Um Charlotte isn't a pony name though.”

Charlotte thought for a while before asking, “How are ponies named?”

“Generally for their appearance or disposition, possibly after their talent if their parents learn what it is before they name them.”

“Hold on so since your name is Rare Luck, that means what exactly?”

“I don’t know. I never met my parents. The palace staff raised me. But I was named for my talent, I have a knack for finding things I need. Like a tinderbox, a jar of salt. Little things.”

“Ok… Let’s see… what am I good at?” Charlotte slid out of the bed, getting to her hooves and then trying to stand on her hind legs by reflex instantly wobbling and falling back onto the bed, “Woah! Ok, that’s… difficult. All fours it is. Thank you dad for apparently teaching me how to stand like this. Ummm, I’ve always been good at electronics. Char sounds kind of like Latin. How about we call me Char Watts, it’s close enough to my name that I’ll recognize it.”

Rare shrugged, “I haven't met many ponies. But that sounds like a pony name.”

Char nodded firmly, “Right, so from now on I’m Char Watts. The Daughter of a wealthy merchant on her way back to her family estate in the north and not the Emperor’s daughter on a journey to Equestria… Wherever that is.”

A soft voice gasped, “You’re the Emperor’s daughter?”

Rare and Charlotte whirled in the direction of the voice, a stone colored pegasus mare stood on a balcony attached to one of the attic windows which apparently served as a pegasus landing pad. The mare timidly clicked her front hooves together, “I-I-I um…” she bowed low, folding her wings to her back as she landed, saddlebags brushing the floor.

Rare shot Char a frightened look, which Char returned before stammering, “Um-n-no! I’m just a merchant's daughter.”

The pegasus stood up, shaking a lock of long blond mane out of her eyes, “Your highness, I’m sorry I didn’t know the Emperor had a daughter. I mean, i see it now, you look a lot like he does on a silver buck. I um… My cousin and I wouldn’t have put you in the attic if we had known. I brought you some food, it’s not fit for you, I’ll get something else! Please don't have the legion burn down our ranch for this!” The pegasus moved to jump back into the air and take off.

Char left eye twitched, “Wait!”

She froze, turning back to face Char, “Y-yes?”

Rare noticed a quick crafty look flash over Char’s face as the girl thought up what she hoped was a convincing lie, “You can’t tell anyone who I am. My bodyguard and I are on an important mission my father couldn't trust to anyone else. You didn’t know I existed because it’s a well kept secret, he has me carry out many missions all over the Imperium. I’m his spy. You saved our lives, so I am willing to let you go unharmed. But if you tell anyone else…”

The mare nodded, “I understand your ma-”

“My name is Char, understand?”

She nodded twice, looking relieved, “I understand. D-do you want a better dinner? This is just some flasks of mushroom broth.”

“No what you bought is fine,” Rare said, realizing a way to reinforce their lie, “If you have a new meal made that would just make other ponies suspicious. What’s your name?”

“That’s a good point. Cuz is the nosy type.” The mare noted, quickly adding, “Oh! It’s Iron Night.”

Rare nodded, “Thank you Iron. I don’t know what would have happened if you hadn’t found us.”

Charlotte nodded, “Yeah, we were pretty much screwed. I’ll see if I can't get you a reward once my mission is completed.”

Iron’s ears perked up at the mention of a reward, “Really? Well… I’ll be sure to keep you happy until your body guard is well enough to travel. Oh… What name and rank should I tell my cuz you are? She will want to know.”

Rare’s lips pursed as she tried to think of a convincing rank, “You can use my real name. I’m Centurion Rare Luck, Emperor’s personal Legion.”

Iron nodded, “Ok.” She took two wooden flasks from her bag and handed one to each of them. The flasks were still warm, “Drink up, it’s fresh and thin now but after a while it thickens up and you can't drink it at all.”

Char opened the flask, Rare caught a flash of surprise on her face as she opened the cap with her hoof. “How did I do… Er never mind. Thank you for the meal.”

“It’s my pleasure your ma-um-Char. Oh! When my cuz and I got back to you after I went to get help I couldn't find any of your stuff. Sorry… If you need anything before you leave please let me know. I know you had a hooded coat, I don't have one of those but my brother left his hat and poncho here when he was conscripted… You can have them if you want some clothing. I honestly would rather not have to remember him every time I open the closet.”

Rare winced, she could imagine how it would feel to have lost somepony like that. But Charlotte's wide eyed horrified expression made her giggle as Char asked, “I’m naked?”

Iron raised an eyebrow, “Well yeah, so’s most everypony.”

Charlotte blushed deeply and slipped herself under the covers. “I-I would really like something to wear.”

Iron shook her head, visibly stifling a laugh while rolling her eyes, “Some ponies… Ahem! I mean I’ll get them for you right away. Enjoy your dinner.” Iron snapped open her wings and jumped, quickly flying out the open window.

“You could have told me I was naked!” Char sulked, sipping at the broth slowly.

What is the big deal with that? Rare rolled her eyes, “Charlo-Char, When we met I only had a cloak on to make ponies think I was in the legion. Most ponies don't use clothing. It’s just not comfortable, besides unless you’re in heat your coat covers everything up… Oh! Do humans use clothing for modesty? I know that minotaurs do.”

Charlotte nodded, “Yeah we do.”

Rare laughed until she had to hold her sides, “Ah! Ow… You are going to have to get used to so many things!” Thank you old gods, I really needed a good laugh after well… my life.

Shaking her head and ignoring Char’s annoyed glare Rare sipped at her mushroom broth, snickering at thing she realized the many things the new pegasus would have to relearn how to do.