Twilight sighed as she tinkered with her latest little project, since the Equestrian had escaped she had been relegated to simply entertaining herself. She hadn’t been allowed to watch as the Daimyo from the other Clans arrived for the meeting that would reinstate the Shogunate. That had been a bit of a disappointment, but she supposed that she could’ve had a worse punishment for losing a prisoner. For now she was sitting in her tent next to the shack of the Chieftess’, tinkering with all the junk electronics she could get her hands on. So far she had managed to put together a makeshift PDA, which she had mounted to her wrist so that she could charge it by simply running magic down her arm. SHe called the little device a Gizmo-Pad, and she had plenty more items like it planned, hopefully it would redeem her somewhat in the eyes of her hosts.

Meanwhile, in the shack of the Chieftess, thirty men and women in heavy armor had somehow crammed in for a meeting the likes of which hadn’t been held in five hundred years. The meeting of the Daimyo with the newly announced Shogun was a time honored tradiation that had started one hundred years after the bombs fell, it was a meeting where each clan leader pledged their allegiance to the new Shogunate until the Shogun either died or stepped down. For the men and women representing their clans, it was something none had imagined they would live to see… And yet, they were there, seated at a table with Shogun Altair and his wife. Once the meeting had concluded she would become Empress, not Chieftess… No Onorussian had ever imagined there would be another Empress after the deaths of Maria and Luna Occisor centuries before.

“We have sat ununified because up until this point we have had other matters to tend to…” Altair’s voice carried through the room with great authority while the Daimyos listened and watched intently. “I understand the importance of growing crops and gathering resources, but unfortunately our old enemy has forced us to face him once again…”

“It is true, then? The Equestrias have gatlings at their disposal?” Asked a man representing the Clan of Adlere from the far north. Altair nodded to his question, prompting numerous hushed murmurs from the rest of those present. “It will only be a matter of time before they begin pushing north… The Adlere Clan pledges its loyalty to the Shogunate!” There was a chorus grunts, in a matter of seconds twenty seven clans had followed the Adlere’s example and pledged their loyalty. All eyes turned to the three clans that had remained quiet, though Altair’s stare was the most intense of them all. The first to speak their mind was the mare representing the Iteration Clan, the only remaining clan of Changelings within riding distance of Canterlot. The mare in question was known as Ragyo, she was the brood mother of the Clan and the highest authority in her region.

“While news that the Equestrians have these weapons is terrifying, we don’t see why we must reconstruct the old Shogunate after five centuries. We’ve all done well on our own.” The mare said with a rather haughty tone. “Some better than others.” She adjusted the silk robe that she had worn to the event as if to display her status.

“You dare defy your Shogun!?” One of the Daimyo’s bellowed, but Altair held a hand up to silence him.

“It is true… We have all done well for ourselves this past five centuries, but we are only just surviving! We lack the resources on our own to mount a major offensive, or to defend our territory completely…” Altair declared before he slammed an armored fist down on the table. “If the Iteration Clan wishes to leave the Shogunate, they are free to do so, that is the purpose of this meeting after all… But be warned, anyone that is not part of the Shogunate does not garner its protection…” Ragyo looked at the Shogun with a sneer. “And a target.”

“Are you threatening us?” Ragyo growled.

“Well, if you refuse to uphold loyalty, you are a potential target. Whether it's to the Equestrians or to us, who’s to say?”

“We swear loyalty to the Shogunate!” The two other hold outs quickly blurted out, leaving only Ragyo to decide.

“There was a time when our people could live in harmony, Shogun… But that was a thousand years ago.” Ragyo said through gritted teeth. “You and your hoomans may unify, but we are done being the subjects of your kind.” Altair hummed quietly while the others began to shout and roar, once again he held up a hand to silence them.

“Is this your final decision, Daimyo?” Altair asked, the Changeling nodded. “Very well…” THe man stood up and calmly walked towards the Changeling, without so much as a word he ripped a patch off of her robe, a patch signifying the Changeling’s ancestors. “You dishonor your family and all of your clan! A shameful display!” Ragyo looked at the patch, then growled and stood up.

Ragyo was shocked when the Shogun reached out and grabbed her by the back of the head, he proceeded to slam her head into the meeting table with a hard thud. The Changeling hissed in pain and tried to put her hooves up to defend herself, but Altair held her firmly in place with one hand while drawing his short blade from the scabbard on his belt. Ragyo’s eyes went wide as Altair held the blade in the air above her head, the entire room went silent, not a soul saying a word as the knife loomed. With a yell, Altair slammed the knife down next to her head in the wood of the table.

“Leave now, outlander, before I have your tongue cut from your head!” The Shogun roared. That word was what cut deepest, the term ‘Outlander’ made it all very real to Ragyo. Outlander was a term for Equestrians and anyone else that didn’t bear the mark of an Onorussian Clan, in other words… A target. Altair let go of her head, allowing her to stand up and quickly rush out of the shack, leaving Altair to look at the silent others. He pulled his knife from the table and slipped it back into its scabbard. “Now… Is there anything else we need to discuss?” There was no one else who spoke, prompting Altair to hum. “Then you may leave for now, we will begin discussing our counter offensive in the morning.” The others bowed deeply before they filed out one by one, Altair quietly sighed when they were gone and looked to Cassidy. “They’re uncertain…”

“It’s been five hundred years.” Cassidy replied flatly, Altair shook his head and ran his hands along his temples.

“You and I are among the few that remember just how long that is…” Altair said as he walked to the door and looked outside. “And… How quickly it flew past.” The man looked towards Twilight, the Consar that had arrived and seemed to herald an era of change. “For the new blood it was so very long ago, but for me… For us… I still remember when we did not live in shacks… Cobbled together from scraps.”

“I do too, and you and I both know that things will change for the better.” Cassidy said as she approached him, beginning to undo the straps and laces that held his armor in place. “I am sorry for the loss you feel each day… But I am glad… That it gave you purpose, that it brought you back to honor.”

“The way of life my Mother taught me is the only thing I had left of her…” Altair replied quietly. “Total devotion to my cause, total dedication to each action I take, no regrets… Life, in each breath…” He slipped his armor off and set it aside, now down to a simple robe. “History may call me war lord… Monster… Evil… But we both know, that I am not important… Our people are.”

“Oh, Altair…” Cassidy said as she wrapped her arms gently around him. “You’ve no idea how long I’ve waited to hear you speak of duty…” Altair turned and quietly kissed his wife, the New Empress of the Occisor Shogunate. Hesitantly the two of them pulled away from one another, each blushing as if it was the first time they had ever kissed… That was why they worked so well, things always felt fresh. “I realize you’re busy, but I have a favor to ask of you.” Altair hummed quietly. “The Offworlder… You know she seeks to go home, she had a vision… Involving the Serpent. She wishes to contact him.”

“So… She believes Discord to be her salvation?” Altair asked aloud, Cassidy nodded. “Feels like yesterday that he seemed to be mine…” The Shogun looked at the ground quietly. “If you command me, I shall contact him… But only if you command me.” Cassidy paused and looked out the window at Twilight’s tent, then back to her husband.

“Were she part of our Clan I would…” Cassidy said quietly. “As it stands, she has yet to take the rights of passage.” The woman put a hand on her husband’s cheek, prompting him to look up at her. “If she becomes part of our Clan, and if she still seeks the Serpent… Only then will I ask you to contact him…”

“As you command, Empress.” Altair replied with a bow, Cassidy nodded before she walked to her husband and kissed him once again. The two of them stepped to the doorway and looked towards Twilight’s tent. “What shall we do with her… She’s lost one of our prisoners…”

“She’s also managed to get an ancient device to function…” Cassidy added. “If we continue to support her, she will grow to follow our ways… If we prepare her correctly, eventually we will have the power of a Techno-Priestess among our ranks…” The woman sighed and rubbed the back of her neck. “I dislike this scheming talk, it is best left to the Equestrians.”

“Then we shall end the discussion here…” Altair said simply. “I think it would be good for you to take on an apprentice, I’ve thought so for a long while, but you know…” The man trailed off. “The point is, the Offworlder is receptive to our ways, our culture, do not think of it as scheming to get her on our side… Think of it as planning to help enlighten her to our beliefs.”

“Someone’s been praying to Putin I see.” Cassidy said with a slight giggle, Altair shrugged and smiled.

Twilight watched from her work table just inside of her tent as the Chieftess, now Empress, and her husband enjoyed one another’s company. Twilight was glad for them, glad to see that her suggestion had ended the silence between the two of them, and glad to see that she had also played a role in changing the course of the world’s history. The woman looked back to her latest project, a couple old cellphones strung together to make a crude code cracker. Many of the locals had told stories of underground bunkers with coded doorways, if she could get her device to work she could help them get at all sorts of supplies, and she could possibly learn more about how to get home. These underground bunkers were military in origin, from before the bombs fell, she couldn’t begin to imagine what information might be sealed beyond their massive doors.

Twilight couldn’t help but notice that everyone that walked past her tent seemed to be bowing or stooping in some manner, though she couldn’t quite understand why. She had looked around for any coins or other valuables laying on the ground, but hadn’t found a thing, she supposed it was something to do with her having her tent flap open? Whatever the reason, it was only mildly distracting… She was making good progress on her latest project, she had even found a source of power that could work. Despite the fact that Razor Grass had used the suggestion as a means to cover his escape, the prospect of using an energy cell from an ancient rifle made sense. They were already calibrated to put out a certain amount, so they wouldn’t fry the circuitry, and they could be recharged…

The woman sighed and adjusted a couple circuits, to her relief there weren’t any sparks that accompanied those adjustments. It was a little known fact to even her closest friends, but Twilight loved working with circuitry and technology, it presented its own set of challenges that she could devise numerous ways to overcome, the kind of thing she liked to do to keep her mind sharp. The sound of someone stepping into her tent got her to look once again to the doorway, she found Cassidy standing there with her usual look of stoic serenity.

“Oh, hello Cassidy! Something I can help with?” Twilight asked, Cassidy hummed as she walked closer and crossed her arms.

“Perhaps I can help you instead.” The woman said, towering over Twilight. “You’re skilled with technology, you could help us greatly…” Twilight shrugged, as if she didn’t understand. “You could use your talents to aid us in surviving and winning against the Equestrians, in return we could help you find a way home, and we will teach you to be a part of our Clan.”

“So I take it you won’t help me contact Discord?” Twilight asked flatly, Cassidy sighed and shook her head.

“Only if you were a member of our clan would I feel comfortable asking that of Altair, I want to help, but I cannot subject my husband to such things for someone outside the Clan…” Cassidy said firmly, but apologetically. “That is why I’m offering to help you become part of our tribe, so that you will learn why I am so hesitant… If you still wish to contact Discord then, I will make it happen.” Twilight scowled slightly and looked at the floor.

“How do I know you aren’t just going to use me like Razor did to escape?” Twilight asked, Cassidy walked towards her and knelt so that she and Twilight were eye to eye.

“Equestrians have no value of honor, but we do…” Cassidy said in a sincere voice. “When we make a pledge, we honor it.” Twilight could see the look of sincerity in Cassidy’s face, and while her husband might’ve been more inclined to lie, Twilight had shared a bed with Cassidy… She felt she could trust her.

“Alright…” Twilight said with a slow nod. “What should I do to prepare?” Cassidy stood to her full height and gestured to the gadgets that Twilight was working with.

“You know the inner workings of these devices… Just as a medicine man knows the parts of a body or a bard the parts of a song.” Cassidy said, outside Twilight heard a rumble of thunder and she could see that several heavy clouds were blocking the sun. “To be part of our tribe, you must know that the parts are more important than the whole… What you do for your Clan, your family, is always justified… You must first come to terms with that, that no matter what you do, think, or say, this clan… This Family… It always comes first. Go to your devices and meditate on this, we will begin covering the gods’ teachings in the morning.”

Twilight nodded quietly and watched Cassidy leave the tent, she closed the tent flap behind her as rain began to fall from the sky above. The woman looked back to the code cracker she had been working at, what Cassidy had said was rattling around Twilight’s head. In all honesty, she wasn’t sure she believed in the gods of the Onorussians, but she respected that the followed them so dutifully, for that she would keep an open mind. The chance to take place in another culture’s rights of passage was something she couldn’t pass up, the chance to learn was too great to say no.

[♠]

Spirits were high in Camp Pondelton on the western outskirts of the Ponyville Ruins and southern outskirts of ‘Tribal Territory’, dozens of cloth tents were set up while campfires were tended by numerous Equestrian soldiers. Two entire regiments were preparing to move into those foreboding lands after the news had spread of the formation of the Occisor Shogunate. Leading one of the companies in this massive army was none other than Lieutenant Colonel Razor Grass, the Cavalry Commander that had helped bring the news of the new threat. Many of the soldiers there had fought in previous campaigns against the various tribals, all were eager to get back on the battlefield. They even had cannons and gatling guns, many men assumed it would be an easy fight… Others were keen to remember what happened to General Custard and his men.

Razor Grass was among the latter, he had seen just how hard the Onorussians trained, just how fanatical they could be… He had shared that news with his fellow soldiers, to try and prepare them for the enemy they only half understood. As Razor stood on the edge of the camp with his new sword in hand he couldn’t help but find his eyes drawn to a rain storm in the mountains to the north. It would take the two regiments nearly five days to cover that amount of distance, plenty of time for the Onorussians to mount a counter attack if the force was discovered. The Lieutenant Colonel looked over to his right as someone walked up next to him, a gristled looking stallion with dark grey fur and a tan mane, he wore the uniform of a Major with several leather straps across the chest.

“Hey, Chief.” The stallion said casually as he puffed on a cigar between his lips. “Was expecting we’d find your body out on the field.”

“Nice to see you too, Powers...” Razor said with a slight grin as he looked over at the Major, the two looked back to the north. Powers and Razor had been friends since officer training school, with Powers acting as second in command of the company. “So this is it, huh? We’re finally pulling all the stops out, the king is gonna go through with it.”

“We have the tech we didn’t have before, meanwhile they’re still using swords, arrows, and spears…” Powers said with a shrug, Razor sighed and shook his head. “What, you think we’re gonna lose?”

“I can’t say with any certainty.” The stallion replied as a cold wind began to blow in from the North, the storm clouds were moving further south. “The Onorussians were feared in ancient times for a reason, even against overwhelming odds they’ve come out on top.” The stallion pulled a cigar from his pocket and lit it with a wood match, puffing several times once it was in his mouth. “I spent two days with them, and in that short amount of time I was able to see just how fanatical they are. Now, emboldened by this new ‘Shogunate’, I’ve got a feeling we’re going to be really earning our pay this time around…”

“We’ve got plenty of powder and shot, I’m sure that’ll beat whatever they can throw at us soon enough.” Powers said while he puffed on his cigar once again, the smoke being carried away by the wind.

“You ever wonder if maybe we’re the bad guys in all this?” Razor asked abruptly, Powers looked at him with a raised eyebrow. “I mean, we say they attacked first, but they say we attacked first… Thousands of years ago, who’s to say they aren’t wrong?” The stallion took a puff from his own cigar. “Not saying I still won’t fight them, but I’d feel a lot better about it knowing we were more in the right.”

“I think whoever’s standing at the end of this will be the one who was more right, and we both know it’s going to be us, not some sword wielding heathens.” Powers said with a smirk, Razor shrugged as the two of them began walking back towards the inner portion of the camp. “Just wait until tomorrow, we’ll do some real open country riding, you’ll feel a heck of a lot better.”

“Hope you’re right…” Razor said simply as they left the edge of the camp behind.

Author's Note

Okay, so clearly this story isn’t doing to well at the moment, but it’s not like I’m a mind reader. If you’re going to leave a dislike, let me know why, please. Look, I want to do a good job here, but I can’t if I don’t know what’s wrong. Anyway... If you favorite, please also leave a like and a comment telling me what you thought.... Writing is my life, and if I lose my way writing I lose my way in other things, so please, help me by telling me what I’m doing wrong...

Anyway, here’s the song of the day...