The Imperial arms

Troy pov two days later

I sat about two hundred meters outside our old house and smiled as I watched Knuckles and Applejack as they moved around inside. We were letting them live there until the crew I’d sent to the farm to finish their home. I heard whining coming behind me, and I looked back and saw Snowball walking up with Nightmare holding his ear with her magic. Her stomach pushed out a little more as she and Snowball both walked over to me.

“Your wolf has torn up the training field again!”

I huffed as I looked at him, and he looked away from me. I laughed then whistled, and Snowball ran over to me. He sat down behind me, whining as he laid down. I nodded, then reached down and patted his head. I looked down, and he had his ears laying on his head as he whined. “Boy, you know you can’t go around digging up fields.” He whined louder as he looked up at me. I laughed as I patted his head then looked at Nightmare. “So, anything else I can do for you on this lovely night?” Her right eye twitched as she glared at me.

“Are you really asking me that as you pat his head?”

I laughed and scratched behind his ear, and he started kicking the ground. The ground started to shake a little as Nightmare sighed. ”Yep.” She nodded but smiled as she looked at me.

“I love you, but by the moon, you're an idiot.”

I laughed a little before I sat down and leaned back into Snowball's side. I crossed my arms as I looked at her. She laughed, then walked over and sat down beside me and leaned back into Snowball's side with me. She rested her hands on her stomach and sighed as she moved her shoulders around a little. I smirked as she looked up at the stars. I looked up at Luna’s night and smiled as I listened to the calm of the night. I laughed, and she looked at me. I looked at her, and she smiled as she looked at me.

“What?”

“When was the last time it was just us.” She laughed as she nodded, then stood up and sat down in my lap. I laughed as I pulled out my cloak and wrapped it around us. She sighed as she ruffled her wings as rested her back into my chest. I wrapped my hands around her stomach and rested my hands over her stomach. “So, are my girls happy I’m home?” She laughed as she rested her hands on mine.

“We're happy; all of us are.”

I leaned back, and Nightmare turned her head and rubbed her cheek on mine as she relaxed as she spoke.

“It’s nice to get moments like this.”

“Ya.” We sat there for a while, Snowball not moving, and his breathing was almost enough to put me to sleep, but my mind was too active for me to sleep. Aki and Isa were now at the castle and asking questions about what happened, and the griffon nobles were hounding me. The high nobles were either keeping their head after we stripped Stonewall’s family of their titles and lands or trying to get one of their own onto the griffon throne, so they had a stronger power base to come after me with. In all honesty, I was thinking of picking a griffon to be the ruler so I could just be done with it.

“Say, is our cabin empty now?”

I nodded as I looked down at her. “Ya, the Diamond dogs moved into town a few weeks ago. I had some of my soldiers check the cabin. It was just like we left it so we could go there anytime you want.” She smiled as she looked up at me.

“Can we go?”

I smiled then nodded, we got up, and Snowball stood up and shook a little. “Do you want to walk, or do you want me to carry you?”

“We can walk.”

I nodded, then grabbed her hand as we started to walk. Nightmare leaned into my side, and I smiled as I heated my body. She hummed as she rubbed her cheek on my shoulder. I laughed as I let her hand go then wrapped my arm around her. Nightmare grabbed my hand as we walked.

“Do you think you could get our homemade hot spring going?”

“I can, but I need to clean the buckets first some mold could have started to grow on them.”

“Oh, well, maybe later then.”

“Sorry.” She laughed then nodded her head as we walked into the forest, but we stopped as Snowball started to whine. I looked at him and saw he was too big to fit under the trees. “Sorry, boy, I’ll clear the overgrowth so you can come to the cabin.” He whined a little more than stood up and whined as he walked back and forward in front of the forest. “Ok, damn.” I let Nightmare go then drew Leviathan. “Ok, I’ll clear as we walk.” I walked out of the forest and started cutting with Ice blades clearing a wide path. It took a few minutes, but I had a nice wide path, and I may soon turn to a road. Snowball happily walked over to the river and started to drink. I laughed as I walked up to the cabin, grabbed the key, and unlocked the door. We walked in, and I snapped my fingers, and all the candles were lit. “I love those magic candles you bought.”

“I told you they were a smart thing to buy.”

I laughed as I looked over at the living room and saw her sitting in my chair. I nodded as I walked over to the couch and sat down and leaned back, and sighed as I looked up at the roof. "I forgot how quiet it was out here."

"Ya, I still think this would be the best place to raise a foal."

I laughed as I looked over at her. "Still pushing that boulder?' She smiled as she leaned back into my chair.

"I'll never stop pushing it."

"Tell you what, if you can convince all the girls, I'll build up the house." She frowned, knowing that wasn't going to happen. "We can make this a weekend home, and I'll build the add-on." She smiled and nodded her head, and her ears perked up, and I got up, not needing a shadow to tell me at this point, having picked up how he knew they were close. I've learned to since other souls if I really tried.

"They don't seem close."

"Ya, but Snowball hasn't made a sound or hear someone screaming bloody murder."

"True."

I walked over to the door and pulled out Leviathan. "I'm going to see who it is."

"K, I’ll see what is left of the food stores."

I walked out and started to head into the darkness and noticed Diamond dog paw prints. 'Hm, these are smaller prints, not like the ones I've seen before.' I looked to the side, seeing a flash of armor from the moonlight. I jumped as two diamond dogs burst out of the darkness. I grabbed a large branch and sat down at the three dogs in real armor. "Interesting, diamond dogs in proper armor. So, are you a lot from the rough ruby city?" They seemed surprised, and the female of the group nodded as she looked up at me.

"Yes, the governor of our city found out the cabin in the clearing belongings to the equestrian royal family. And seeing as the king has yet come to our city to formally receive his thanks for saying his daughter he has been guarding and maintaining the outside."

I laughed and jumped back down and walked over to the tower over the five-foot-nothing girl. "Well, I guess someone from your city has finally found the king of Equestria, Troy Thanatos." They blinked as they looked at me, and I smiled as I rested Leviathan on my shoulder. "Thanks for looking after the place. Tell you what, come back, and you can come inside." They all looked at one another then nodded. I smiled then started to walk back, and as soon as we walked out, Snowball ran over and barked and jumped around as he looked at the Diamond dogs. I laughed and waved my hand down as I looked up at him. "Easy boy, easy boy." He did as I told him to, then walked over and started sniffing at them. She got his nose close to the female and started to sniff her before he started to growl, fangs showing. "Wow, boy!" I grabbed the large rope collar and pulled him back. He growled as I pulled him back and nodded for them to head to the cabin. The males quickly walked around him, but when the female tried, Snowball snapped his jaws. I dug my feet into the ground, stopping him as he tried to get at her. He started to pull me along. "He can't get into the forest!" She jumped back in, running deep into the woods.

‘Shadow, can you tell if she’s really a diamond dog?’

‘No, she’s not but not a changeling either.’

I nodded, then shook Snowball as I looked and saw Nightmare welcoming them into the cabin. “I’ll be right back!” She nodded, and I noticed a sword on her side. ‘I hope she stays nice.’ I sheathed Leviathan and walked into the forest, wondering what I was going to see. Snowball howled as I walked into the forest. I sighed, knowing something really must be wrong for Snowball to act like that. I closed my eyes, trying to feel out for her soul, which I’m still trying to figure out how it works. An image of the forest formed, and a few seconds later, I saw a red orb in the outline of a female figure to the far left. I opened my eyes and started to walk.

‘Master, what are we going to do? Plus, I’ve never seen a red soul before.’

‘Let’s just see how this plays out.’ I walked into a small clearing, and I looked at the scared Diamond dog. I stopped about ten feet away from her. “So, you're going to show me what you really are?” Her eyes shank as she looked at me, but I didn’t move. “You have my word if you're honest with me right here and now. I will keep an open mind, and I’ll even throw my sword over to you to make you feel safer.” She looked at me for a second and seemed very worried as she looked at me, then nodded as she looked at my sword.

“If you wouldn’t mind throwing the sword over.”

I pulled Leviathan off my side then threw it over to her. She caught it and looked at me for a second before setting it on the ground.

“Please don’t run.”

“I’ve already given my word; I never break my word.”

She sighed, and she closed her eyes and held a hand over her chest; then her eyes opened and were glowing red. “What?” Her body was covered in a red mist, and I saw her body's shape starting to change, and she seemed to be getting taller. She moved her arms behind her head as the mist faded away. In front of me stood a six-foot wolf-looking dog with black fur and a black tail with a white head of hair with a white belly and chest. But I could feel my face heat up a little as I looked at how she was dressed now. She had what looked like bright red leather. She had straps going along her upper hips with a set of red panties and bra with a golden wolf head between her breast. The bra seemed to be held up by a ring on her collar. She had a blood-red crescent moon on her forehand with a few golden earrings.

I crossed my arms as I looked at her. “Interesting, I’ve never seen someone like you before, but I have to say you're a beauty.” She blushed as she lowered her arms.

“Well, thank you. Most who see me like this run away or try to attack me.”

“So, here’s the million-bit question: if you're not a diamond dog, what are?”

Her ears lowered to her head as she looked away from me.

“I-I’m a half breed half Diamond dog half hellhound. My mother was a Diamond dog, and my father was a hellhound. But, I took more after my father than my mother. Thankfully I can make myself look like a normal diamond dog, but like your wolf, and you have shown, some can tell the difference.”

I nodded as I looked at her and shrugged as I looked at her. “I say you look fine like this, but her clothes are well revealing.” She laughed as she looked down at herself.

“Ya, but that armor makes it hard to wear those overcoats or loincloths. Something like this works so much better.”

I nodded, then reached back into my supply bag then pulled out my cloak. “Here, this is covered in mine and a few of my mares scent. This should stop Snowball from trying to attack you.”

“Thanks.”

I tossed it over, and she put it on, then threw me leviathan. She turned herself back into her other form. I set Leviathan back on my side and started to walk again. “With everything finally setting down, I need to come and speak with the governor. That city would be perfect for the trial. I wanted neutral ground to hold it, and his city would be great. I know it's over the border to the south near the wasteland." She didn't seem to understand what I was talking about. I let it lay as we walked back into the clearing and saw Snowball lying down beside the cabin. He looked at us and sniffed for a minute, then started to growl. "Well, shit, that didn't work." Snowball jumped up and charged us. I glared at him, and just like everyone else, he stopped and slammed his paws into the ground. Bringing him to a stop in front of us. I snapped my fingers then pointed my finger down to the ground. He lowered his head and lowered his head. I grabbed his rope collar and shook him. "She is a nice hellhound Snowball, do not tear her to shreds." She whined as he looked at me, and I held a hand out to her. She looked at me for a second then held her hand out. I took her hand and held her hand in front of his nose. He sniffed a few times, but he pushed his nose into her hand with a slight tug from me. She calmed down as Snowball gave her hand a little lick before I let him go and he stood up then walked back to where he was. He laid back down and looked at me as I looked at her. “So before we go in, can I have a name?”

“Rin, my name is RIn.”

I smiled and nodded my head. “Nice to meet you, Rin.” She smiled, and we walked up the steps, and I opened the door. I let her walk in, and she walked into the living room and took my cloak back off.

“Thanks.” She held it out to me, and I put it back into my supply bag. I looked in and saw the two dogs sitting on the couch, and I could hear Nightmare in the kitchen a little further down the hall.

I smiled as I walked over and wrapped my arms around her. I pulled her back into my chest, and she laughed a little as she ruffled her wings as Nightmare used her magic to cut up carrots and Potatoes.

“Someone is in a good mood.”

I smiled as I opened my hand and rested it over her stomach, and she laughed a little more.

“Well, I hate to ruin this moment, but I got a letter.”

I looked over her shoulder as she set everything in her magic down then a letter with Celestia seal floated up. “So, what did she dig up?”

“She found the guard who let Knuckles into the cell with the king and Prince.”

I looked down at the letter and started to read it. I let her go as I started to feel anger starting to grow in me. “Nightmare, please see to the guest and send a letter to Claw. I want his stealth unit to be ready to mobilize at a moment's notice. Something tells me before tomorrow is over, we’ll have a full-blown fight with Knuckles. Plus, Applejack, that mare is dangerous when she wants to be. I’m going to go have a chat with Knuckles and Applejack.”

“Don’t take too long; I’m making vegetable soup.”

“I won’t take too long.” I stepped closer and kissed her on her cheek. She smiled as she started to use her hands to pill the veges. I walked back outside and found Rin leaning over the reeling, petting Snowball, who seemed to have gotten it out of his system as she scratched his head. I laughed, and she looked back at me. Snowball turned his head as he looked at me. “Sorry, but I need to go and deal with something.” I started to walk down the steps and hear Rin speck up.

“Want some company?”

I stopped and turned my head and saw her standing at the bottom of the steps. I shrugged, then waved for her to follow. “Come on, oh, and I’ve got an offer for you.” She smiled as she ran down to me and Snowball yawned before laying back down. We started to walk, and I smiled as I pulled my cloak back out and held it out to her. “I can tell you hate that armor.” She laughed as she took the cloak then put it back on, and I stopped as she changed back.

“I love it when I don’t have to look like that.”

I laughed as we started to walk again. “So, ready for my offer?” She smiled and nodded as she looked at me.

“Ya.”

I smiled as I pulled out a bag of bits plus a document I’d had ten copies of made. “You see, I’ve meant to form my own royal guard unit to protect my herd and me. And I’ve been on the lookout for unique individuals to form it. In my homeland, Hellhounds like you are known and fear for their fearsome loyalty and sense of honor.” She blushed as she looked away from me, and I pulled my scarf up, hiding my smirk. It was a lie, but how humans view her kind but a hellhound would help in different ways.

“You want me to leave Rough Ruby and become one of your guards?”

I nodded, then started to play the game as I’d noticed the careful tone she was using. “Ya, you’d be the third candidate. Besides you, there is a Tiger named claw, a thestral named Knuckles. I don’t care about blood, race, or birth. I pick the leaders and officers in my branch by merit alone.” She smiled as she looked at me, then nodded as she looked at me.

“Give me some time, and I will talk with my Mother and Father.”

I nodded, then held the bits and the copy out to her. “Feel free to keep the cloak; I have another one.” I nodded, then stopped, and she stopped to look at me. “With that said, once we get to where we're going, get somewhere and take cover.”

“Right.”

We walked out of the forest, and I could see the castle and the house. A little farther away and I sighed, knowing what I was about to start. "Let's go, Rin." I started to run, and she was close behind, keeping up without a problem. I laughed as she ran, and I saw her paws and claws dug into the ground. We went around the castle, and I saw a few of my soldiers walking around on the wall I had built. I jumped up into the wall and ran, surprising the guards as I jumped back down. Rin seemed impressed as she spoke up.

"That was cool, but why?"

"I wanted a look at the house. I abated to see if anyone was outside of the house. I saw Applejack, and I know for a fact she's going to kick the hell out of me one or two times before I get the stallion." She looked worried, and I waved her off to the tree line. She ran and got into the tree line. I rubbed my chin then started to walk to the house. I slipped my hands into my pockets and walked up the front path to the house. To my joy, Knuckles walked out, and I saw Applejack planting seedlings. They looked at me, and Knuckles turned to Applejack, and she quickly went back into the house as I walked up. I stood seven feet away from him, and he stared at me.

"So."

I narrowed my eyes as I looked at him. His tone was dark, and he had his fist clenched. "I know who let you into the dungeon, Knuckles. Now I'm going to give you and him a chance. Look, I'll let you two get away with a few fights here and there. But, they were under lock and key when you beat them. They could not fight back at all. That said, Brutal is going to lose his rank and start over. But you're going to be charged with a crime. Now, depending on how much you're willing to work with me right now, it can be a lot worse. Or a slap on the wrist, and you get to stay with Applejack on the farm after it's said and done." He licked his lips and clinched and opened his hand.

"What would I have to do?"

I wasn't going to have to fight yet, so I was happy about that. "You'd surrender yourself to the guards and be held until the trial is over. After that, we'd hold you until the dust settled, and then we'd let you go. Applejack and any who you want is free to come and see you." He seemed to be thinking about it, and he nodded then looked back at the house.

"Can I go explain this to Applejack before we head off?"

I nodded but crossed my arms. "You got ten minutes, and please don't get her too mad I don't want to get kicked in the face again." He laughed a little and nodded his head.

"You know it's funny. The only thing that scares you is a farm mare and her grandmother."

I rolled my eyes, and I waved him off. "Go on now before I throw you through the door." He laughed a little more, then walked back over to the door and walked in.

'Well, that went smoothly.'

'Ya, I was expecting a fight; something seems a little off.'

'Ya.'

A minute later, the door flew open, and Applejack came running. 'There it is.' I jumped as she threw a kick at me. I landed on the roof and sighed as I looked down at the mad mare. "Ya, I had a feeling this was going too well."

"Get down here!”

I sat down and rested my arms on my thighs as I looked down at her. “Ya, no. I don’t want to be kicked in the face again. Besides, I’m letting him off easy. You and anyone else are free to come and see him. And I'll hold him for a month at the most.”

“You're not taking my stallion!”

I sighed as I heard someone else getting on the roof. I looked out of the corner of my eye and saw Rin on the side of the roof. I looked away from her and looked down at the screaming mare.

“Enough, Applejack.”

We looked to the right, and Knuckles was standing here with no weapons, no armor. I jumped down, and Rin jumped down beside me, hood over her head, hiding her face well. This seemed to take the wind out of Applejack’s sails as a sword flashed under the cloak.

“Troy, guards are coming. I think the queens are done waiting.”

I looked at her then jumped up. I got a good eight feet up from my small jump, and sure enough, Luna’s night guards were coming. A few looked up, and a second later, they started to double time. ‘Shit.’ I landed and looked at Knuckles.

“Luna’s patients ran out, man.”

Applejack seemed a little worried, and Knuckles nodded.

“Right, it’s best we meet up with them halfway.”

I nodded, and he hugged Applejack and gave her a kiss before the three of us started to walk as the guards came around the road.

“Troy! Make sure no one hurts my stallion!”

I raised my thumb and yelled back. “You got it!” The guards quickly formed up around Knuckles, and he put his hands up. Two of the stallions grabbed his arms and pulled them around his back, and cuffed his hands. He didn’t fight them as they led him away, and I sighed as I looked back at Applejack. She looked distraught, and I knew I would have to talk with her one way or another. I sighed as I walked back over to her. I stopped in front of her and opened my arms. “Go on, kick me as hard as y…” I didn’t get to finish as she kicked me in the chest as hard as she could. I rolled across the ground and stopped on my chest, and coughed as I got to my feet at the end of the roll. I coughed as I rubbed my chest as Applejack stomped back to the house.

“Are you okay?”

I nodded as I looked down at Rin. “I'm fine, RIn; I knew she needed to get that out of her system. I was worried that she might go off, and she’s the sister of my head mare. It would be a lot of trouble if I didn’t let her get that anger out on someone.” Rin looked concerned but nodded as I started to walk away. ‘Damn, I can feel her horseshoe imprinter into my chest.’ I stopped rubbing my chest when I noticed Rin looking at me.

"Hey, boss!"

I looked down the road as Claw came running. He stopped in front of me and huffed a little, and bent over a little as he stood there. And he was trying to talk, but I patted his shoulder. "Take a minute and breathe, Claw." He nodded, and a few minutes later, he spoke.

"The lawyers have been picked, and the jury you wanted has arrived. All but the zebras haven't sent two representatives to serve as part of the jury." I nodded, then looked down at Rin. “Go on home, Claw. Rin, I need to get back to Nightmare, so you're free to do as you like.”

“Yes, sir.”

They spoke in unison, making me laugh a little as they looked at one another. They nodded to one another before Claw jogged off. Rin started to walk to the forest with me.

“I’ll be taking off once we get into the Everfree.”

I nodded, and once we were in the forest, she took off. She was fast, maybe half as fast as Knuckles is. I jumped and saw the cabin with Snowball still laying down behind the cabin. I landed in the clearing and stretched out my arms. I heard the door open, and I looked over as the sun started to rise. Nightmare stood there with a smile on her face. “They’ve arrived, so we need to head back soon.” She nodded, and we walked in as there was a nice hot pot of soup to eat.