The Imperial arms

Troy pov one week later

I smiled as I looked at the group of buck scouts being marched onto the prison ships the griffons had brought in. Ayak was at my side, writing down the count as our cannons opened up on the wall now that we were clear of the field with another army dead at our feet.

"That makes a hundred scouts, and they seem to be getting younger as well. We must have finally started to put a real dent in the male population for that to be happening."

I nodded as I sighed, then looked back to see the diamond dogs finally getting to the base of the solo bridge to the port. "Good, once we take that bridge down, we'll trap them and cut them off from the rest of the kingdom." I smiled as Ayak hummed as she finished writing then looked up at me.

"Ya, and with the king trapped in the city with his last son, we could take the whole kingdom if we catch them."

I laughed, then nodded my head as we started to walk down the small hill. "So, do you think we should bowl it or try and talk with them before be do it?" Ayak was thinking about it as Luan came walking up with a bow in hand. She smiled as she pulled out a map then held it open for us. She held it with her magic.

"My nightguards and I have stopped the chance of resupply from the far side of the city but causing a massive landslide in the small valley completely blocking it."

I laughed, then smiled as I looked back to the bridge and smiled as I saw Ember coming down her dragons. She landed in front of me, and a smirk was on her face. Her dragons dropped the massive wagons, and doe's climbed out as the nurses and others walked over to start checking them.

"How did your mission go?"

She smiled as she pulled out her copy of the map, then held it out to me. I took it then opened it, happy to see the red x's on the map.

"All the camps we could find were destroyed, and doe's rescued."

I smiled, then nodded my head, then held the map back to her. "Great work, Ember; you and your troops get some rest." Ember nodded, then she flew off, the dragons following. I smiled as I watched them go nodding my head as I turned to face Luna and Ayak. "Okay, you too take yourselves and troops to get food. I'm going to see how far my officers and Chrysalis have come with our first attack plan. Oh, and if you find out, they try to take the bridge, blow it. I want to keep that bastard here until I can get a surrender or victory."

"Okay, Troy."

"Yes, dark hunter."

I laughed at Luna's little poke at me now that she knows what bounty hunters were calling me. I walked off, humming a tune. As I walked, I started to sing. "A king he was on carved throne in many pillared halls of a throne with golden roof and silver floor. And Runes of power upon the doors. The light of sun and star and moon In shining lamps of crystal hewn. Undimmed by cloud or shade of night, they shone for ever fair and bright. The hammer on the anvil smote there chisel clove, and graver wrote there forged was bladed and bound was hilt the delver mined the mason built their beryl, pearl, and opal pale and metal wrought like fishes' mail buckler, and corslet, axe, and sword and shining spears were laid in horde."

"I didn't think you sang."

I stopped as I looked over, seeing Bellezza and Isa. I smiled as I looked at them. "Not too often, but when I do it mostly songs of my homeland. Bellezza, I need to speak with you; walk with me, please."

"Sure, queen Isa it was nice speaking with you."

"The same to you, lady Bellezza."

Bellezza smiled as she stood, then started to walk again.

"So, is this about the book?"

"Ya, I need Rongo Rongo. Have you learned to use it yet?"

"Yes, I've learned how to use it."

She moved the dress bottom then pulled Rango Rango out of a holder of some kind. She smiled as she opened the first page. I saw a list of the kingdoms on this continent.

"I've learned that the more I know about the lands, the more detailed the maps became."

I nodded as she turned a few maps, then she showed me a full map of the dragon lands. It was incredibly detailed, more so than any other I've seen. "I see. Well, I've never much cared for arms like this one, but seeing this, I start to see the value of them." Bellezza nodded as she turned the page, and I looked at the deer kingdom.

"I learned a lot by studying the maps we've gathered so I could add more detail."

I nodded as I looked at the book, a little annoyed at the size. "Can you make it any bigger?"

"Ya."

She tapped the coastline, and it blurred, then it changed to show the whole area, even the landslide Luna and her troops caused as well as the bridge. I smiled as I looked at the map. "This is awesome, Bellezza." She smiled, then closed the book as we walked up to the war tent. I opened the flap and walked in, seeing her ex on the ground out some with some green blood running from his nose. I blinked as I looked up and saw Chrysalis huffing as she cleaned green blood from her knuckles. I looked over to the officers and Knuckles, standing off, not doing anything. "So?" Chrysalis huffed, then kicked the side of his chest, trying to make it look like she was trying but wasn't really. I looked at her for a second and narrowed my eyes as I looked at her. Her eyes flashed purple, and I huffed as I grabbed her throat. "So, your not Chrysail; want to tell me who you are?" I lifted her, and purple flames erupted from her body. A few seconds later, I was holding Chrysails sister. "Your Fuchsia, right?" She nodded, and I heard laughing for a second. I looked down at the ex's as Chrysails laugh came bursting out as the others laughed as well. Green flames came from him; I watched as Chrysails held her stomach and wiped the green stuff off her nose. I dropped the sister, realizing I was being fucked with. Knuckles walked over, laughing, and grabbed my shoulder.

"Sorry, bro..."

I grabbed his arm then threw him over my shoulder and into a cabinet, breaking it as he fell laughing. I looked at my officers and the now quiet Chrysalis. "I'll be back in two hours, and Chrysalis, please don't do something like this again. the rest of you have until I get back to get the plan ready or so help me, I'm going to throw you all in the ocean!" I walked out of the tent to a few of them, quickly moving. Bellezza was laughing into her hand as she looked at me. "That will be all for now."

"Yes, sir."

We nodded to each other before I turned and walked down to our sleeping tent; after a few minutes, I walked in, seeing Celestia looking over some papers with Snowball's head resting at her hoofs. I laughed, then walked over and sat down on my cot. Looking around, I spotted the rabbit asleep next to the foot of my cot. I reached over and wrapped my hand under her stomach and picked her up. She kicked a little, then calmed down as I set her down on my lap. She fluffed up for a second, then huffed as she rested her head on my thigh. I laughed as I brushed her brown and white fur.

"I guess we have a new pet?"

I laughed as I ran a hand down her back. "No, I was thinking of giving her to Fluttershy, seeing how much she loves animals. Plus, Rarity's talked about her pet rabbit, so I thought the little ones would get along with one another. Besides, I'm going to take down that gate tonight no matter the plan everyone comes up with within the next hour." She looked up from the papers and looked at me.

"How do you plan to do that?"

I smirked as I held up my fist and cracked my knuckles as I looked at her. "I'm going to use one of the new techniques I've been working on. But, there are a few drawbacks once I do that."

"Those are?"

"I'm going to be boosting my attack power by mixing in my fire energy with a technique from my tribe. That should be more than enough to take that gate down." She laughed as she looked back at the papers.

"Okay, but please don't go overboard again."

I laughed then nodded as Ayak spoke up from outside the tent.

"Troy, can I come in?"

"Sure."

Ayak walked in with some papers in her arms. She walked over and handed some papers to Celestia, walked over to me, and handed the other papers. I looked at them as I patted the spot beside me on the cot. She sat down, and the rabbit moved around in my lap, then she got off. I moved then papers, saw her on the ground, and then shook before running under the bed. I laughed as I looked from the reports, then looked to Ayak as she looked around, seeing the slip I'd made.

"I'd heard you slept on a cot like the rank and file but didn't think it was true."

I laughed as an annoyed Celestia spoke up.

"Believe me, it's not to our liking, but he insisted on life, eating, and fighting like the rank and file."

I laughed a little more than got to my feet. "You two have fun talking. I need to go talk with Magma anyway."

"K, see you later."

I nodded and walked out of the tent. I started to jog down the camp heading for the workers part of the camp. As I jogged, I noticed the bulls and ponies seemed to be on edge. I knew everyone was on edge, but this seemed different. I stopped near Magma's work tent and saw the soldiers around seemed worried. "Soldier, can you tell me why everyone seems so upset?" He looked up from the ground, and he rubbed his hands on the war hammers handle.

"Well, Sir. Some of the mares and cows are getting close to heat season, so we're a little worried about what could become."

"I see; I understand and why some of your guys seemed worried. Some of my mares can get a little aggressive when in heat. I'll see to it a plan is formed to deal with this or maybe get some herbs to help calm them."

"Thank you, sir."

I nodded, then walked into the work tent with the sound of hammering filling the air. I saw Magma working with a few of the bulls smiths, but I could tell she was ahead of them. I smiled as she looked at me, holding a piece of red hot metal.

"Oh, hey Troy, what's up?"

I smiled as I leaned back onto a support beam as I looked at her. "I was hoping to talk with you about leviathan."

"Sure, give me a second."

I nodded as she hammered out the edge of a short sword if I had to guess. It was a strange-looking weapon with a long wide blade but had a short handle back. A few minutes later, she dipped it into a barrel of oil. She ran a metal fill over the edge, and it made a scraping sound as she did so. She smiled as she set the blade down on her anvil, then fixed her metal top as she looked at me.

"Come on. I need to go get changed before we talk."

I nodded, and she walked out of the tent. I followed her, and she led me down to a larger tent and waited outside as she walked in. I could hear her talking to a few other girls, and I could make out that they were talking about the siege, but a few closer to where I was were talking about the guys around the camp and who they'd love to fuck. I laughed as I looked up at the sky as I heard a few of them walk out.

"What's up?"

I looked to the side to see Magma in a cloth bra and a thong with some apple bottom shorts. I smiled as I waved to her to follow as I pulled out leviathan and showed her then already busted sheath. She took it and looked at the busted sheath, and ran a claw over it, cutting the leather around the busted area.

"How did you bust this sheath?"

I laughed as I rubbed the back of my neck as she looked at me. "Snowball started to chew on it after I fell asleep." He's got a habit of taking stuff and chewing on it since he's still a young wolf only being ten months old." She huffed as she nodded her head then looked down at the sheath. I rested leviathan on my shoulder as she nodded her head some more.

"I can't save this, Troy. If you give me Leviathan, I can make a metal sheath for leviathan. Maybe I could leave the back open to show off the blade some."

"That sounds good, but just do it simply, so you don't have to spend too much time on this."

"No, it's okay. I want to make sure all my work is as best as possible."

I nodded as I handed Leviatin to her before I patted her back. "Thanks, Magma. I'll come by tonight with dinner. From what I've heard, the cooks are going to wipe up a strew with crushed gems and metal for the dragons." She smiled as she nodded her head then knocked my chest with her elbow.

"Okay, okay, when you can, I'll be in the forge tent."

I smiled as we split up, and I started for the war tent. As I walked up, I saw Knuckles with Fawn wrapping his arm and his rightwing. I saw claw marks as I got closer, and Knuckles smiled as he waved at me.

"Hey, brother, and before you ask, I pissed off Agapi by stepping on her tail. She was turned around before I could get away."

I nodded as I looked at the few bandages around his wings. "Guess she got your arm real good and grazed the wing, right? She does have a temper to her."

"Haha, ya, she's got a good set of claws on her, that's for sure."

I laughed then ducked as an arm with a set of razor-sharp claws at the end. I moved to the side and laughed as I looked back up at Agapi with a snarled on her face. "Give me a five-second head start?"

"Four."

I smiled then jumped, not want to get my face clawed off right away. I crossed my arms and legs as I flew up into the air. 'Hm, how do I get out of this one?' I pulled on my short beard as I looked down at the camp seeing the prowling she-tiger beneath. 'Maybe I could kick off the top of the war tent and over to the other side of the camp.' I stopped for a second, then started to fall. 'No, that girl is fast enough to catch with me. Maybe offer her some good meat? Definitely not she'd kick my ass twice as hard for trying to bribe her.' I turned my head and blinked as I saw a large group of deer coming. "Oh?" I let my legs out as I landed on the top of the war tent, looking at the group as they crested a hill.

"Get down here and take your beating like a male!"

"Agapi, Knuckles, we have a group of deer coming." Agapi stopped her death glare as I jumped down, landing on the ground. I started to walk as the alarm sounded. I pulled out Murasame as I walked up to the gate as the yaks and bulls formed a shield wall with the rifleman formed up on the wall. I smiled as I jumped up onto the center of the gate top. I looked down and saw a group of well-dressed bucks with a badly beaten pair in the center. "So, is this the king and prince who didn't want to do the smart thing and surrender?" the bigger beaten buck screamed up at me, some blood coming from his mouth.

"FUCK YOU!"

I laughed as I tapped the sword on my shoulder a few times as I looked down at him. I looked back over the gate and spoke down to Luna and Chrysalis as they came up running. "Get a team to escort these prisoners from this group. I want them to be locked up until we can have a war-crime trial." Luna nodded as she turned then yelled back into camp as Chrysalis flew up to me. She looked down and smiled as she looked at them.

"Yep, that's them."

I smiled as I jumped back down behind the gate, then opened the gate, and the yaks and bulls moved forward and quickly surrounded the group. If I had to guess, the nobles quickly moved aside, and they took the two kicking and screaming. As they did, Luna came with the tiger crop, and they took them away with a wall of yaks and bulls around them. I looked back at the nobles, who quickly got on their knees and bowed their heads.

"King Troy, please, we surrender and will obey. Please just stop the fighting. We've lost too many young bucks to this war."

I looked at the deer who was talking to me as the others stayed quiet. I smiled as I stabbed Murasame into the ground then sat down across from him. I take it as you are the voice of the group." He looked at me then nodded as I waved for him to walk over to me. He moved closer, and I smiled as I reached around and pulled out a special I'd gotten as I like the idea of the cups of loyalty from the Yakuza tradition.

"King Troy?"

I dropped my small as I set a large red Sakazuki in front of me. Then I sat a small one in front of him, and he looked at it as I pulled out the large jug of the Apple family's finest cider. "I was happy to find these in this world from neyponies to the far east. In the land I once fought for, these cups were used in many ways. But, the primary role they were used for a pledge of loyalty. A large cup is used as the farther cup and the smaller the child. Once the pledge is made, you will keep the child's cup and I will keep the father's cup. This will signify that you have surrendered the city and all the lands we demand in this case. If you find this unacceptable, then I will be forced to use my army to take them."

"NO! please, I will do as you say."

I smiled as I pushed the jug over to him, and he took it and filled the cups. He sat the jug down to the side and looked at me again.

"You have demands to make, right, sir?"

I nodded as I pulled my book back out then started to read out loud. "Queen Isa wants the rights river and trading town near their border. Queen Akai wants the lost mountain range; the griffins want the land and rights back to the mines taken but force two hundred years back. Equestria will take the port and a city along the western trade roads that will be open to all the allied army countries. All the females being kept in the city as a slave will be released as an end request. If you do not follow this, I will use force to take or do all these things." Mutters and her threats came from the group, but the older deer turned and yelled.

"QUIET!"

They shut up as he looked back at me.

"Many of these are with this area and my power, but the mines, mountain range and river and town you're talking about are part of the family of to the western lands. The head of the family is new and young. But, if you can give me some time, I'm sure I can explain what's going on to him."

I nodded as I looked at him. "I can agree that, so as of this moment, you and the nobles fall under the control of Equestria until all parties agree you are ready to self-govern again. As of this time, we will be moving into the city, and any sign of aggression to us freeing the females will be met with the force."

"Understood."

I smiled as I took my cup, and he took his. We drank the cider and sat the cups back down. "We will give you one day to spread the word so this, and seeing as you have surrendered without a battle, I will give your city the honors of war an allow any soldiers to leave with their flag flying high, but all females will be released at the gate."

"Thank you, Sir."

We stood cups in, and I bowed to him in a sign of respect; he did the same.

"Sir, if you'd like, there are hot springs over near the port of the troops would like to let some of the stress out."

I nodded as they turned, then started to walk away. We walked back into the quickly made fort. After a few seconds, it sunk in, and everyone roared with joy once it had. I laughed as Luna jumped into my side, and Chrysalis did the same with my other side.

Luna pov five hours later

I smiled as I walked around the hot springs looking at the massive ice wall.

"Luna, what are you doing?"

I stopped and saw my sister with the other queens and Margo. "Not much, but I was looking for you all." I grabbed my towel above my breast before getting into the water. I sighed as I relaxed into the water.

"So, what's up, Princess Luna."

I smiled as I looked at Queen Isa. "Troy's trying to find volunteers from the males to help make sure they don't try sneaking out any more of the doe's, mares, cows, snakes, and all the others. The dragons and male tigers have already caught some trying."

"I see that to be expected at this point; we are taking away the way they live for generations."

I nodded as Arua walked to the spring.

"Can I get in?"

I smiled as I looked up at her. "Sure, we got the room." She smiled as she climbed in.

"Say did you'll already hear about the males that tried to sneak out?"

"Ya, we're just talking about that before you walked over. I don't know too much, but I know they've been taken prisoner or killed if they fought."

She laughed as she leaned back into rounded rocks.

"Ya, but I've heard a few of them we're screaming this is their right, and they own them they have the right to do with them as they want to."

I rolled my eyes as she laughed and flexed her hand, making her claws come out.

"Let's see them try that with my sister or me."

We laughed as she clawed the air a few times.

"LOOK OUT!"

We jumped up as a crash came from the other side of the wall where the males were bathing. A second later, we heard laughed and screaming for someone to run the warrior king's kill him once he gets his hands on him. A few seconds later, a blast of air came from the other side. "Guess Troy got his hand on whoever did something stupid." I sighed as I looked over and saw Agapi rinsing her body off. "Agapi, if you don't mind, please go see who did what." She turned her head to look at me.

"Give me a second, Lady Luna."

I nodded then stood from the water, holding my towel. I turned and looked at Agapi, and she'd turned, and I noticed the muscle her body had. I laughed a little as I walked up beside her. I smiled as I ran a hand up her back.

"AH!"

I laughed as I jumped back from her claw swing. "Lady Luna!" I laughed as I looked at her back through the towel. "You're really well built. I could use someone like you in my night guard. Maybe I should headhunt you for the night guard after we get back." She smiled back as she held her breast.

"Maybe if I can borrow the king."

All the girls around laughed, and I had to a little as well.

"Damn it get off that wall, or I swear to my ancestor's spirits you five will die tonight!"

Another blast of air came along with a few pained yells. I moved my mane back as we looked at the wall and saw a few cracks. "Peeping colts, I guess we should have seen that coming." I laughed as I walked into the tent with Agapi right outside the entrance. I walked over to the guards we had to help with clothes.

"One-second princess, I'll get your clothes. Agapi, I'll have yours right after her."

"K."

"Get back here!"

I stuck my head out and saw four stallions and one yak running out of the male springs. Troy chased them out a balled fist with the other hand on the towel knot.

"I know where you sleep; I will get you!"

I laughed, and he looked over at me and smiled as he waved. "Having fun threatening the perverts?" He laughed then slipped back into the tent. I laughed, then pulled my head back in and saw the guard holding my clothes out to me. I used my magic to put my clothes on, then walked out.

"Your free do as you wish, but as of now, just leave them alone."

I watched as Knuckles stormed out of the male tent, a snarl with his fangs showing. Troy walked out a second later with his shirt on his shoulder with only his pants on. His long hair was tied up, and I noticed he'd gained a few new scars. The long scar going down his shoulder and upper chest now had another line making an x on his chest. There was a half-crescent scar going over his left collar bone and upper chest. A dozen or so smaller ones dotted his chest and upper stomach. I laughed as he walked up to me and patted the new scars.

"I know, I've been getting cut up a lot lately."

"Hopely with the deer king finally in our hands as well as his last heir." He nodded as we started to walk, then he stopped and looked back at the ice wall.

"One second, Luna."

He walked back over and turned his hand and two domes formed over the springs. He smiled and saw it was thin, but you could see blurred shapes if one looked close enough. At the top, I also saw holes for venting, if I had to guess.

"That feels better."

"Hey, Troy, Luna!"

We looked over to the side at the sound of Urgirth's voice. She came flying down, and I saw a few of her new students following her. She seemed worried, and she stopped in front of us. We looked between each other, and she looked up smiling.

"You got to see this."

She started to move again before we could respond. She took off into the air, and Troy sighed as he grabbed my side then jumped. I wrapped my arms around his side as the air rushed past my face.

"Oh, damn."

I looked up and saw a long line of deers moving out.

"By the ancestors, there are so many leaving."

I nodded as we landed on a hilltop. Troy set me down as the line seemed to come to an end with the gate closing.

“Hm, hopefully, this won’t be a massive backfire.”

I looked up at Troy as he watched the end of the line moving away. I smiled as I grabbed his arm and wrapped my arms around his. “I’m sure it will be fine. I'm sure they’ve learned their lesson this time.” He sighed as he looked at the city, then nodded as he looked at Urgirth.

“Put a unit together within the next hour. I want the walls guarded tonight and tomorrow; something about this is going way too easy.”

I smiled as I started to pull on his arm. “Come on, let's get back to the springs. I want to soak some more.” He laughed as shook his arm then patted my head.

“Sorry, Luna, but I have a prior engagement with some of the griffons from the noble court. They’ll be here in an hour, so I need to get ready and deal with them before the nobles in camp whip them into a frenzy.” I huffed then nodded as I let him go, but before I could walk off, he pulled me back and hugged me. I smiled as I hugged him back before he kissed my cheek before standing to his full height.

“Ok, I’ll be quick because I want to get back into those waters too.”

I nodded as he took off at a jog, putting on his shirt. I laughed a little as I watched him run off as always.

“Always moving forward, isn’t he?”

I looked back, seeing Urgirth looking at me. I nodded as we watched him go.