The King of the Dovah

Before the Equestrian's arrival

Raddin's pov

"Another day, another shit ton of paperwork." I sigh to myself as I sign another document and set it with the others I had already signed.

In truth though the past year and a half has been very prosperous. It was rough at first since the remaining nobility of the Empire had tried to kiss my ass to get in my good graces. Too bad for them I have become quite the politician during my time in Skyrim. In those lands you had to have a bit of political savvy if you wanted to get anywhere.

First was the various Dwarven automaton's that Aranea had made possible with her reading's of the Oghma Infinium. The Dwarven Spider's had become perfect builders as well as great tools for farming. In just a few short weeks the entire Empire had been repaired with their help and we soon had found other uses for them. The became standard civilian tools used by workers in construction projects as well as by farmers for dispersing seeds and carrying products to the market. Basically the Dwarven Spider became a tool for multiple uses by the citizens of the Empire.

Next was the Dwarven Sphere's. They weren't as versatile as the Spider's but they were still invaluable as foot soldiers and helped in the Guard's as a police force. Standard procedure now was one Sphere for every two Guards while out on patrol as it was better safe than sorry despite the peaceful state of the Empire at the moment. Even with the Sphere's serving mostly an the policing of the streets they were also regular wall guards almost twenty four seven. The one advantage over the Guards was their ability not to tire and to forever remain vigilant.

Even with the Spiders and Sphere's doing their parts however the Centurions were by no means slouches. Every critical section of the Empire was guarded by no less than two Centurions. While they mostly stayed still and just watched as things happened around them it was also due to their creation that we discovered a little side effect to using the Empire's crystals for their power source. It was found out that due to the crystals magical properties that mages in the presence of these crystals seem to gain a rather significant boost to their magical abilities. Basically the larger the crystal the greater the magical increase. That was why it was decided earlier on between my advisors and myself that the battle mage's would immediately be deployed to where Centurions were stationed in the event of an attack.

Besides the automaton's however came the fact that I agreed to mass publish the various books of my personal library to the public and needless to say opinions varied. While most found them a good read there were still a good few that took the books a little closer to heart. Those few had taken to adopting the beliefs of the races of Nirn though one particular race stood out. From what I had been told most of those adopting the belief's of the races of Nirn had taken up the ways of the Nord's more in reverence to myself than anything else. I didn't mind this much since it wasn't really bothering anyone so I let them do as they pleased.

Despite all the work on my part, what with reestablishing the Dark Brotherhood under Erane and the supplies for the new College under Aranea I still managed to find time for myself. I had taken this time to read the books in Sombra's library and better acquaint myself with pony culture, among the other races of this world. During my searches however I managed to stumble upon Sombra's personal journal, and what I found in there nearly drove me into a rage rivalling that which I felt when I fought Harkon alongside Serena.

Whatever could be said about Sombra he was very detailed in his descriptions regarding his exploits. Most prominent being his 'battle' with the Princesses of the Sun and Moon Celestia and Luna. How it was told was that despite having the power of this worlds 'highest beings' and with the aid of the 'Element's of Harmony', they still couldn't do much against him. Or rather they wouldn't. They apparently held the 'all life is sacred' mentality which prevented them from doing what needed to be done. Instead of slaying Sombra and eliminating a threat permanently from the world they decided to imprison him along with the rest of the Empire.

In my eye's they were nothing but a bunch of pathetic cowards willing to sacrifice the lives of thousands just to keep their own hands clean. I took no great joy in just taking lives needlessly myself, but that did not mean I wouldn't do so if it was for the greater good of the world and more importantly the people. When I gave copies of this journal for the public to read themselves any remaining support for the Princesses died at the fact the ones they saw in such a good light actually condemned them just to keep an image of benevolent and caring rulers.

"Ruby, how many more papers do I have to go over?" I groaned as I turned towards my secretary.

Her name was actually Ruby Skies but I simply called her Ruby. She was a crystal mare with sky blue crystal fur with a long ruby mane and tail. She was an attractive mare by all accounts, what with her five foot eight height and curvy figure defined by her red blouse and blue skirt. Her most astounding features however were in her filing abilities which was why she had been given her station as his secretary.

"Forty more documents your majesty. After that you have some meetings with Ladies Erane and Aranea." said Ruby as she took the stack of finished papers and began to file them away while I groaned in annoyance. Paperwork was a madness worse than anything Sheogorath could come up with.

Thankfully a distraction came in the form of a courier bursting through my chambers doors. The courier wore the standard grey cloak with the scroll insignia on his shoulder which signified his station. He was breathing heavily for a moment in which time I had been able to recognize him as the courier of one of the Empire's gates.

"Sire! Eight Equestrian's and one drake have just been spotted near the gates!" he exclaimed making my eyes narrow.

I knew on day Celestia would come back to try and reclaim the Empire for her own once more. The resources this land possessed were too numerous to count so it would only make sense for any ruler to want control of such a land. However I would not let her take advantage of my subjects once more and I fully intend to make this clear with these Equestrian's before I send them running back to those pitiful rulers of theirs.

"Ruby leave us! More important matters have just arisen that require my attention." I ordered and without another word she had left leaving the courier and myself.

"What should I do sire?" asked the courier as I moved towards my armor rack which held the armor and weapons I used to slay Sombra.

"Go alert the Guard's that I want a small contingent of them at the Castle doors by the time I arrive. We are going to greet these Equestrian's as soon as I have donned my armor." I order as I began to don my armor once more. The only indication that the Courier had left to give my orders was the quick opening and closing of my chambers doors.

A few short minutes after the courier had left and I now found myself fully armored and standing in front of the twenty Guard's I had requested. Giving them a brief once over I started to march towards the gates with my Guards forming up alongside me. As we passed through the various streets of the Empire the citizens would stop and give their greetings to us as we passed. I gave pleasant smiles and curt nods all the while my mind was drifting to how I would handle the situation regarding the Equestrian's. In the end I just decided to wing it as I had no clue as to what I was dealing with.

When we had finally arrived at the gates my Guards had gone through first in order to make sure the area was secure before allowing myself through to greet our uninvited guests. What I saw however left me sorely disappointed.

First off the six mares in question didn't look like anything special in the least bit.

The yellow Pegasus looked like her own shadow would send her running as soon as she saw it, the rainbow mane one from her stance alone had an air of arrogance and bravado that I had killed many a man for having. Then the Earth ponies, while the orange one with the weird hat looked strong in body I could easily tell she was a farmer and far from a professionally trained soldier, her pink counterpart however had this air about her that reminded me of Sheogorath when I had met him in order to retrieve the Wabbajack. Finally was the unicorn's, the white one was obviously a noble of some kind or at least trying to be one as she was more concerned about her looks than anything else, as for the purple one I could see great knowledge in her eyes but also quite a bit of naiveté so I figured her more of a scholar than anything else.

Next was the two ponies out front, the white stallion unicorn and the pink alicorn. The stallion was definitely a warrior of some kind and he reminded me of the Hold guards back home. Still he wasn't nearly as intimidating as he tried to make himself and I instantly knew that he was the only 'real' muscle for this little mission of Celestia's. The alicorn however I already didn't trust and figured her more of a liability than anything else. First off she wore a dress into a possible hostile territory, she possessed no weapons to defend herself and she radiated an aura as if she was on some 'noble quest'.

I didn't even bother to try and analyze the so called 'dragon' with them as he was nothing in my eyes. Compared to the dragons, especially Alduin, that I have slain the little milk drinker was nothing but a nuisance at most. It was then Id decided to address them in a way I found appropriate.

"What in Oblivions name are you followers of that pitiful excuse of a ruler Celestia doing in my Empire!?" I bellowed. Yeah, real subtle.

Unsurprisingly the Equestrian's were shocked for a few moments. The faces on them would have made me smile if not for the situation. So I opted to adopt what most have dubbed my 'dragon face'. They said when I have that face I look like an angry dragon rather than a Nord. That face had helped immensely when I needed to 'persuade' someone to see things my way in the past and I felt it appropriate for this moment.

It was then that the stallion spoke up having finally broken out of his stupor.

"Your Empire!? This Empire is to be ruled over by Princess Cadence under the authority of Princess Celestia! Not some freak creature who is nothing but a false ruler and tyrant!" declared the stallion only for one of my Guards to yell back at him.

"You know nothing! Celestia has no rule here anymore after she left us to rot alongside Sombra to save her own skin! And you, a mere trespasser dare accuse our King of being a tyrant? He slayed Sombra single handedly which is something your pathetic rulers were incapable of doing! So why don't you just leave us all be since you Equestrian's seem to be very good at that." growled the Guard as the other Guards quickly voiced their agreements.

"What the hay!? We came all this way to save your flanks and this is the thanks we get!?" said the Rainbow maned one in disbelief and a little anger.

For the next few minutes I listened on in silence as the Equestrian's and my Guards traded verbal blows. The Equestrian's kept trying to paint me as a tyrant and saying that my Guards were, 'poor brainwashed slaves that they were here to free.' My Guards however would just deny any mention of me being a tyrant in any form and trying in vain to get the ponies to believe they were in no way brainwashed or under any sort of outside influence.

Eventually I had enough of the back and forth argument and decided to settle things in the traditional way. Well, traditional for a Nord that is.

"Enough." I said evenly but my voice was somehow heard over their yelling and the two groups finally silenced themselves leaving me time to speak my offer to them all.

"Now that you are all quiet I believe I have a way we can settle all of this. You see my people had a way for dealing with disputes such as these in a way befitting of our culture. By honorable combat. So I offer you this, I challenge one of your party in one on one combat of their choosing. Should your chosen win then I will relinquish my throne to you," as soon as I had said this my Guards began to protest as the Equestrian's looked on in interest. Only by raising my hand in a gesture for silence was I then able to finish, "however if I win then you will become prisoners of the Empire until a time I see fit for the charges of trespassing and slander of my person. Do you agree? Cause if not then you can always turn around and run back to Celestia with your tails between your legs." I finished with a challenging smirk.

I calmly waited as the Equestrian's debated on my offer. I was unconcerned however since I knew they would accept. They were too confident in their abilities, or lack thereof, and too naïve to the fact that they were outmatched by myself. Soon the would learn however, the only real reason I wanted to have them imprisoned so I could gain more profit by trading hem off back to Celestia. Not only would this increase the Empire's treasury quite a bit, but it would also serve as a message that the Empire no longer follows her rule.

After a few more minutes of debate with the Equestrian's the stallion finally stepped forward challengingly as he glared at me.

"So I assume you have accepted my offer?" I asked with a smirk.

"Yes we have." he responded simply.

"Very well then! Now what are the parameter's for this duel?" I asked.

"Strictly swords. No shields or magic." he stated while drawing his own sword for emphases. What he didn't expect though was the laughing that came from my Guards while the Equestrian's gave them all confused looks.

"I don't get it, what's so funny?" asked Pinkie tilting her head.

"Hehehe, it's just that your friend there just made the biggest mistake of his life when he chose to cross blades with the King. Don't worry you'll find out soon enough." said a Guard making the Equestrian's feel a little uneasy if the looks on their faces were anything to go by.

Dropping my shield I drew World Eater from it' sheath and felt a small rush as my dragon blood began to boil at the thought of battle.

"Now before we begin may I know the name of my opponent?" I ask more out of curiosity than anything else.

"Shining Armor, Captain of the Solar Guard and husband to Princess Mi Amore Cadenza." he stated and I decided to reciprocate by introducing myself.

"Raddin, Dragonborn and King of the Crystal Empire." I say.

"Not for long!" declared Shining as he rushed at me with his sword raised.

As he approached I readied my own blade and when he brought his down my blade quickly came up to block his strike. We held the deadlock for a few moments as he futilely tried to overpower me. Finally I pushed him away and we began to circle each-other, eyeing one another up looking for any opening's. Then we clashed once more as sparks flew from our blades as we exchanged blows.

Almost immediately the difference in our skills could be seen even to a novice. My swordsmanship was forged by countless battles against beings that could be considered gods in their own right as well as being trained by masters of the sword all across the land of Skyrim and it surely showed. Shining's however was too rigid and lacked any creativity to his strikes since they were all textbook techniques. He may be Captain of the so called 'Solar Guard' but that only meant he was one of many mediocre trained swordsmen. I was truly disappointed that I had gotten my hopes up about actually having a decent fight.

Deciding to end this quickly on Shining's next overhead swing I locked our blades once more only this time I gave way making Shining fall forward and lose his balance. Before he could recover I quickly drove my knee into his midsection making him hunch over as he gasped in pain. As he was hunched over I then drove World Eater's pommel into the back of Shining's skull sending him face first into the dirt heavily where he then laid unmoving.

"Shining!" cried the alicorn, whom I assumed was the Cadenza, and the purple unicorn mare as they rushed to the fallen stallion's sides.

"He's not dead merely knocked out. Now however it is time for you to uphold our deal. I have one the duel fair and square and now you must accompany me to the castle as my prisoners until further notice, understood?" I asked as I sheathed my sword.

The two of them could only nod as my Guard's rushed in and placed the Equestrian contingent in shackles and, for this with horns, magic inhibitors. While the others were made to walk through the city to the castle however, Shining was being carried via telekinesis to the hospital to be checked for any lasting damage from our 'duel.'

Taking one quick survey of the area around the gate I give the gate Guard's a nod of thanks and walk through on my way to the castle to finish that damned paperwork. Was it really too late to go back to adventuring?