Autumn Breeze arrives at 11:35, early. She lifts her hand to knock but a loud 'Ew!' drifts through the door.

The door opens and Luna glides out with a satisfied smile, not sparing Autumn Breeze a glance.

Autumn peeks in and finds a stunned Royal on the floor, her mane ruffled and her daughter poking her cheek. "You okay Captain?"

Royal blinks and shoots up, grabbing Scootaloo to keep her from tumbling over. "Y-Yeah! N-Nothing to s-see here!" She squawks. She blushes and clears her throat, "I'll just grab your things." Royal disappears out the door to grab the luggage.

Autumn Breeze turns on Scootaloo. "Should I ask?"

"No," Scootaloo deadpans as Royal returns with several buddled bags and suitcases.

"Those aren't all mine." Autumn blinks.

"Nope! Some are mine and Foalan's. You're not the only one that knows how to arrive early." Flash smiles smugly, fist bumping Foalan.

"You two were hoping to get here before me." Autumn chuckles.

"N-No," Foalan protests.

"They probably had a whole plan in place," Royal teases. "Woke each other up early and tried to find the fastest way to the Royal Suites."

"No. W-we—"

"Oh. My. Gosh. That's totally what they did!" Scootaloo joins the banter.

"The kid too! Fine! We might have... Rushed a bit." Foalan concedes.

"Why did you have us bring our things to your room instead of the luggage carriages?" Autumn asks.

"Because I can just send it to the rooms I had prepared for you at the Castle." She answers, tossing her and Scootaloo's luggage with the rest. "I'm friends with one of the courier ponies and it's not an easy job. There was this one mare that had so much stuff she sent someone for me and I had trouble getting it to the customers house."

"Wow. What did she pack?!" Foalan exclaims, utterly surprised that anything could be hard for Royal to carry or pull.

"I have no clue!" Royal answers as she uses her magic to put the room back to what it looked like before she had gotten there. "Felt like she packed a whole castle." She mutters grumpily when she thinks back to the huge pile of... stuff packed on the wagon. Royal snaps her fingers and their luggage disappears.

"Howdy!" Clover greets as she pops into the room, hugging Royal tightly.

"Howdy! How did the trip back to the Kingdoms go?!" Royal asks.

"Yeah! What's the gossip!" Scootaloo adds excitedly, clambering up onto her Aunt's back.

"The Kingdoms are doing rather well with Tua taking over as Temporary Emperor. He asked and wrote letter asking about you and your Mom like two thousand times, he misses her. Oh! One of the Nobles thought it was their chance to challenge for the throne with your Mom gone," Clover chuckles evilly, "he was so wrong! Tua crushed him. The Tundra Kingdom volunteered to be the first Kingdom to be revealed. I made sure to tell Ellie you love her and that one of the Centaurs took her out for a jog. I should stab you for making me do it, she slobbered all over me. She coul-"

"Your the Empress aren't you," Foalan and Autumn chorus.

"PFT! What!?! Nooooooooooooo!" Clover lies oh so convincingly, nervous chuckling so loudly that Royal cringes. "What ever gave you that idea!"

"Uh, one, every time the Princesses come they are barely able to keep themselves from bowing. Two, you said that Clover was the Empress' closest advisor and confidant, like a sister to the Empress. Three, you also mentioned that Tua was like the Empress' father. You also let it slip once that the Empress tamed some wild giant boars and then told us the same story but you used your name." Foalan ticks off, Autumn nodding along and Flash looking more and more shell shocked by the second.

"Also she said 'Thought he had a chance with your mom gone'". Royal being gone shouldn't have anything to with the Empress and there would be no need for Tua to substitute if the Empress was not gone. Royal is the only viable candidate for that since she is the only Mixed/Hybrid in Equestria."

"What! I've been talking to you like you were just another pony!?! I am so sorry your Highness. No!" He bows dramatically, "Your Majesty."

"I can explain all of that," Clover panics, wrecking her brain for any tiny lie, "because-"

"Because," Royal cuts her off, "I am the Empress. Empress Royal Chrysalis Imagery of the Kingdoms of Everfree. But I just go by Royal Imagery."

"Immy," Clover protests... Loudly. "I understand your whole, 'I will never tell a lie', vow, but this information is dangerous! For both you and the Kingdoms. What if they secretly hate Mixeds and torture you for information on the Empire?! Or Assassinate you? Or kidnap Scootaloo for ransom?"

"I hardly think Celestia and Luna would send me such untrustworthy characters. And I'm stronger than all of them together. So there is no way for them to assassinate or kill me. And if anycreature ever even thought of laying a hand on my daughter," Royal spits, seething with rage at the thought and her eyes glowing with hatred, "they'd wish for tartarus! No, death! Because that would be the only thing that could ever save then from my wrath! I will-"

Scootaloo hugs her mothers legs. "It's okay Ma! I'm here, and Nopony's ever going to take me."

Royal breathes in deeply the scent of her daughter and hugs her close. "I would never allow it."

Diana whines and headbutts Royal's hip, her three heads pouting.

"And neither would Diana." After Royal fully composes herself she turns on the three frightened ponies. "You will not tell anycreature. Will you?"

An automatic chorus of Yes Ma'am! Ah, No Ma'am!s is her answer. And a small shiver of terror from Foalan.

"Good! Time for us to go!" Royal announces happily, snapping her fingers to teleport her armor onto her body before pushing them out of the door. "Fall in!" Her group take their places a few paces behind her, stances rigid. Royal sets them at a brisk pace for the main courtyard where the carriages await.

The carriages land and Royal and Scootaloo are the first out and are immediately tackled by two very excited CMC's.

"Royal! Scoots!" They squeal happily.

"Girls!" Royal replies hugging the fillies just as tightly. "I'm so happy to see-"

"Ahem!" Comes the clearing of Twilight's exasperated throat.

Royal immediately freezes and looks up with huge eyes. She quickly gets to her feet and salutes, Sweet Belle and Apple Bloom still clinging to her as Scootaloo lays stunned on the ground. "Miss Sparkle! We have arrived to assume our posts as your guards. If you would allow us to, we will start our duties immediately."

"Sure! I mean... Yes, please escort me and my fellow Elements to Castle of the Two Sisters." Twilight commands.

"Yes, my Lady," Royal gives a clipped bow and turns to her fellow Royal Guards. "In formation!"

They fall into position and begin to escort Twilight, Fluttershy, and Apple Jack to the Castle.

"So, how was your training, Captain?" Twilight asks conversationally as they traverse the Everfree, the other Royal Guards ogling the forest.

"Your brother personally volunteered to train the Pegasi Corps, the group I started off my training with, as soon as he heard new of my coming." Royal answers blankly, her eyes scanning the trees and ears swiveling to scoop up every slight sound.

"Ooooh, aah. I can imagine how that went." Twilight winces.

"Horridly," Flash and Foalan answer together.

Twilight's eyes snap to them and Autumn Breeze elbows them both sharply.

"Sorry for speaking out of turn, Scholar." Foalan apologizes briskly.

"Oh, you two are perfectly fine, we're all friends here. Feel free to talk with me all you wish," Twilight admonishes. "It's just that we haven't been properly introduced."

"The Pegasus is Flash Sentry, Spymaster, he's utterly quick and silent, with the ears of an owl. He is our scout and assassin. Super stealthy. The Earth Pony is Foalan, he's the gentle giant of the group, the unbreakable shield of the group. And the by the book Unicorn is Autumn breeze. She specializes in offensive magic, our piercing spear." Royal introduces. "They also know that I am the Empress."

"What?! How did they find out?" Apple Jack asks.

"It's Clover's fault mostly. She gave the most hints." Royal instantly throws Clover under the carriage, the other Guards nodding in agreement.

"Well, I'm Apple Jack, Element of Honesty. This is Fluttershy, she's tha Element of Kindness, she's also very shy so it'll be a bit before she's comfortable conversing with y'all. You'll meet the others when we get to the castle."

"Speaking of the Castle, there it is," Twilight points out the gleaming marble construct.

Even Autumn's jaw drops.

"It is quiet beautiful, isn't it. We could barely believe it when we saw it too. It was in ruins, now it's even more beautiful than the stories described." Twilight smiles up at the tall spires before Royal pulls open the doors and she gets a paint ball to the forehead.

Author's Note

Oh. My. Gods! I am so sorry for making you all wait this long. I"ve been working an actual book of my own and have recently moved. I hope y'all can forgive my lateness. *Author Sobs* Please forgive me continue reading. Please leave a comment if you enjoy the chapter and give me advice at any time. I always appreciate constructive criticism.

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