“Princess, were nearing Ponyville.” Looking up from her book Twilight find Praetorian Rainbow Dash flying along side her carriage.
“Thank you Praetorian,” Taking hold of a scroll with her magic, Twilight started to ran down her to do list. First, inform Ponyville of the new drift. Then move on to supply demand of food for the legions. And finish with the appointment of the new mayor.
A smile came across her muzzle, ”Praetorian have I ever told you how I became a princess?”
“No, can’t say you have.”
“Well it was on the day my birth parents some how got me an audition at the Empress’s school of magic.”
Rainbow keep peace with the carriage, ”Your birth parents were not Patricians?”
“No, they are Plebeians, think it had something to do with a Legate my father knew, from his legion day. Well anyway, they give me this dragon egg to hatch, at first I couldn’t even move it.” Twilight recalled fondly.
“So how did you hatch that egg then?” Rainbow give a quizzical look.
“Well there was a powerful flash of light, then my magic just seem to fully awaken. Not only did I hatch the egg, I grew Spike here to the size of elder dragon, turned my parents into stone, and the examiners into rats.”
Rainbow stared wide eyed at the baby dragon next to her. She seem unable to see Spike as an elder dragon. She opened her mouth to speak but was cut off by, Rainbow flying ahead. ”Get that apple cart out of the way!”
“No, can do, ya'll can go around.”
“Maybe you didn't hear me Earth Pony, you are going to move that apple cart now!”
“Or what!”
“I’ll inform the Empress’s daughter, and I’m sure you don’t want that!” Twilight could hear her disdain, and knowing praetorian pride she wouldn’t take much more of this. This was followed by the sound of a cart moving.
“Forgive me, I..I didn't know.”
“For now, but If I see that apple cart in the way again let say you’ll wish I hadn't!” The carriage resumed moving. Rainbow returned to her place beside the carriage. “Sorry about that Princess, some orange earth pony mare had her cart in the way.”
“It alright,” Twilight said uneasily, “but did you have to talk to her like that?
“Sorry Princess, it just how were trained.” Twilight took note of how Rainbow’s eyes seem to checked inside of every building they past. As, the carriage entered the town square Twilight saw members of the urban cohort lined the side of the square, leading officials waited in front of the town hall.
Stopping in front of the town hall members of the urban cohort quickly moved to form a line from the carriage to the doors of the hall. Their armour shined in the midday sun, one could hear the towns ponies making idle talk as, other cheered for the Princess.
Opening the door of the carriage Twilight stepped out of and began to walk down the line. Rainbow and three other member of her praetorian guard follow close behind. Up ahead she could see the plump, well groomed politician. If she had to guess, he was the son of some Patricians, whose father had gotten him this position.
The ponies of this town are not going to be happy about this, I just hope they don’t riot. She waked up the steps of the town hall. “Greeting Princess, it an honour to have you appointment as mayor of this town.” The politician said with a bow.
“It’s nice to meet you, and I’m sure you shall do a great job of leading this town.”
“Of course I will.” He stated proudly. “Now let get this underway, as I’m sure you would like to get back to Canterlot as soon as possible.”
“Very well,” Twilight said as she turned to face the crowed. The formed a line in front of the town hall. The crowd grew silent as she raised a hoof.
“Citizens of Ponyville, It is my great honour to appoint your new mayor Silver Fire.” She took note of few ponies seemed happy about it. “Now as most of you are aware the Buffalo tribes have attached a few town along our south border. As, a respect my mother has order that all able body ponies be drafted into the legion till this matter is re…” The cries of outrage, cut her off.
“What! The taxes we pay, and the food you took isn’t enough!” Some cried out. “Now you take our children, who will run our farms and shops, or are you going to take them as well!”
“Citizens, please this is for the good of Equestria.” Twilight felt her heart start to race, her guards stepped in front of her. Each had a cold look, the two unicorn along them drew their gladius.
“Have y’all lost your minds!” A powerful voice called out from the crowd. Twilight looked through her guards, to find a big red stallion step forward out for the crowd. “Now before y’all think ah taking their side, let me ask you this, would you rather them pull legionnaires from the Changeling, Griffon, or Crystal Empire border. I may not be that great at math, but even ah know it would make it easy for any of them to march across the border!”
Some ponies in the crowd looked to one another, “But, Big Macintosh we give food and coin to the legion, surely they don’t need our blood as well?”
“Ah reckon one could say that, but ah also reckon that South Vail, and the Iron Hills give three time as much as us; Plus some. So, why should we be any different?” He said looking up and down the crowd.
A member of the crowd step forward, “I...I volunteer for the legion.” He said in a nervous voice.
Another member of the crowd step forward, “Well can’t let Caramel go and get himself killed, so I volunteer as well.” He said.
Big Macintosh turned to face Twilight, “Princess, may ah, in all respect, ask somethin’ of ya?”
Twilight step in front of her guards, “You may.”
“Can ya give me yer word that only one member of each family we be taken?”
“Y...yes, that seems fare.” She said still a little shaken.
Big Macintosh give a nod, “Then ah’ll volunteer as well, so my sister doesn’t have any chance of being drafted.” Seeing some of their own step forward motivated other to do so as well.
“Seem we got lucky,” Silver Fire, said with a smirk. “Would you care to join me for a midday meal Princess?”
She nodded, “I would be honored.”
“Wonderful job as always my dear,” King Sombra said marveling over his new robes in a near by mirror. The fine red silk, and the snow white fluffy trim embroidered with obsidian. Rarity admired how her hard work matched the king so well.
He could be difficult at times, but King Sombra had always been good to her family. Plus when he in a good mood, it made everyponies lives easier. “I’m am pleased you adore new robes your majesty, and I must say they make you look most regal.” She give her best fake smile.
King Sombra chuckled happily as, he turned to face Rarity. “That I do my dear.” he said as he walked over to a near by table, and levitated his crown off of it. “I will have to wear my magnificent new robes to the celebration in the next few day.”
“Celebration?” Rarity asked, as she didn’t recall one, it wasn’t his birthday or the day he defeated the Equestrian legion sent to overthrow him. Not another of his made up holidays, lets hope this one doesn’t have anything to do with pudding again. She grimaced.
“Well don’t let it get around yet, but my dearest enemy will soon met an untimely end.” He said in a sweet tone, followed by the most wicked smile Rarity had ever seen.
Rarity chuckled nervously, “And pray tell which… enemy is this?” She gave a weak smile.
“None other than Empires Celestia. Would say a few more words about her but, not front of a lady, unlike yourself.” He placed his crown upon his head. He started to leave when he stopped. “Oh, and you’ll be accompanying me to the feast, and do try to match my elegant attire.”
“Yer did what?!” Applejack brought a hoof down on the table, which rattled the plates set upon. Her eyes seemed to emit flames, as she stared at her brother.
Granny Smith and Applebloom peered through the door for a moment, before the elder mare guided the younger away from the conflict that was bound to take place.
“Now AJ, if ah didn’t speak up they would have rioted and that would have been no good for anypony, especially with the princess there.” Big Mac said in a calm tone, as he packed a few more thing in bag.
“But they took Ma, and Pa!”
Big Mac turned to her, his eyes full of sorrow. He just walked over to a cabinet
and opened it. “Ya think ah don’t remember that.” He said as he moved a few thing around in the cabinet, then he stopped. “Do ya think Ma, and Pa would want me to let them take ya and do nothin’?”
Applejack remained silent, as Big Mac pulled out their father’s gladius from the cabinet. The emblem on the hilt was of an apple tree. Its scabbard was made of ironwood, tipped in silver. This and their mother’s helmet were some of the only things they had of their parents. He walked past her without another word.
Applejack watched as Big Mac left the room. She turned to the table and slammed both hooves down upon. “Curse the empire, and Tartarus take the royal family!” She growled, slamming her head against the table’s hard surface.
“Yum” Pinking groaned delightedly as she licked a huge bite of frosting from her hoof, the same frosting that was supposed to be on the cake. “Hm… need a pinch more crystal berries.” She thought outloud, reaching over to a nearby crystal counter. She took hold of a plate of Crystal berries, the aroma of the fruit filling her nose with it luscious scent.
“So what is the celebration this time?” A loving voice asked.
Pinkie turned to the pink pegasus who was cutting sugar crystals. “Well, King Sombra totally has this plan to kill Empress Celestia.”
The pegasus bit her lip. “H..how?”
“From what I heard, he has what he calls tools in Canterlot and he been sinking in some kind of powder, and a rune blade.” Pinkie said, recalling how she had changed a few bags of the power out for sugar.
“Who would help him?”
Pinkie thought a moment, “Power hungry ponies, who think they can take the throne and betray the one who helped them.”
“I could have guess that Pinkie.” The pegasus signed.
Pinkie took hold of a frosting knife, and began working on the cake once more, however she knew this was the hardest part as King Sombra had an idea of how everything should be done. The last pony who messed up was thrown to the Diamond Dogs. To this day, she could hear the screams of those ponies in her dreams.
“Oh, could you start frosting the cupcakes?” Pinkie asked.
“Right away.” The pegasus said, hurrying over to the cupcakes.
Pinkie noticed Rarity motioning for her to come over, “Oh, Cadance darling could you be a dear and cover for Pinkie as I need to have a word with her?”
“Sure, don’t be too long.”
Pinkie left the room and found Rarity waiting, a look of despair on her face. Had King Sombra order her to craft any other elaborate crystal, or had he flirting with her again? “Why the long face?”
"Oh It's nothing Dar-, No it is something..." Rarity bit her lip.
“What did King Sombra not like his new robes?”
Rarity looked down, “No, he adorn them, but he seems to have something in mind for me, it could be he want to use me as bartering chip-” Her face took on a look of despair Pinkie had only seen a few time before. “He could sacrifice me to his dark gods, or the worst thing of all” She shivered “make me his queen.”
Pinkie leaned in close, looking around for wandering eyes. “You could try to escape to the Griffon Kingdom.” She whispered.
Rarity looked in thought for a moment. “I wouldn’t even cross the border before his Obsidian Guards caught me, especially with Sweetie Belle. As I could never leave her in this brute's grasp.”
“There’s one way, the Black Frost.”
Rarity looked at her, as if she had gone completely mad. “You can’t be serious, no pony has ever emerged from that place dear.”
“You mean other than the Rune Knights?”
Rarity shook her head. “Pinkie no pony has seen a Rune Knight in years.”
“Well the last one was twenty years ago,” Pinkie tipped her chin, ”If I recall right she hide a map somewhere near the outskirts of the city.”
“And how do you know that dearing?”
“Oh, that easy I know her.” Pinkie smiled.
She was in a stately room, marble columns held up a lofty roof that towered above her, the whole room was done up with a darker marble than what she was used to, from what she had read, she assumed it came from the black frost area.Twilight was fighting every instinct in her body to bolt, The couch was soft, the air cool, and her companion and host rambling. Twilight rolled her eyes for the eighth time as the prince over exaggerated yet another story.
"With a roar!" He exclaimed, "He charged into the fray of crystal knights, his sword swinging. Nothing could stand under my Uncle, Heavy Hoof," He paused, as if to commemorate the memory, "Fierce blows. Only at one point did he risk losing, as a hundred of the fiercest knights overpowered him at once."
Twilight only remembered five, but she wasn't the one telling the story either.
"Blow after blow, chop after chop my uncle fought out from under their blades. Finally, he was free!" Silver Fire almost rose caught up in the enthusiasm of the story he was telling, his hoof coming down hard upon the table. Twilight caught her crystal chalice in her magic as it teetered.
"Heavy Hoof charged away from the bodies of the stallions who had threatened to take his own life, and back into the fray! The battle was hot, first one side seemed as if it were to win, then the other.”
“But my Uncle Heavy Hoof, pales in comparison to my grandfather!” Silver Fire rose. “There he was facing the terror of the iron mountains, Prince Swiftwind.” Taking hold of a spoon and he began to waving it as if it was a sword. “With a smarc my grandfather charged the Griffin prince.”
“Swiftwind swung his great hammer, my grandfather dodge right and left.” Silver Fire head moved side to side. “But the prince’s hammer was slow, and my grandfather had won many races,” He smirked. “Which made it a trivial matter to remove Swiftwind’s head for his shoulders!” The spoon was swung as if it was the sword that sliced through his neck of the Griffin.
Twilight wondered how much longer this agonizing torture, by this pompous patrician go on. If she wasn’t the princess of the empire, she knew full well she would be groaning and most likely would have been slamming her head upon the table by now.
“Which leads me to how my grandfather conquered the city of Ironhold.” Looking at the position of her mother’s sun, Twilight could tell she has been trapped here for over three drooling hours, and by how Silver Fire loved to talk it was going to be many more. Well could be worse she guessed, BlueBlood could be here as well.
