Author's Note

Sorry for running late with this chapter! But, I finally have decided to start moving up with timetables in the story, and at the two year mark we will get into one of the biggest events in the story, The Fall of Canterlot. It'll be a treat!

This is a short chapter to set up major things in the next few ones, and you all will get a nice change of scenery from the dankness of the current location. I'e also decided that I will not be getting a editor for various reasons that I won't say at this time.

"Folding was never an option." -Cayde 6, Hunter Vanguard

XI-Conversations

"He's a what?!" Twilight yelled out in shock, hoping that she didn't hear Misako correctly about her description of the current emperor.

"He's a paranoid reynard with a twisted sense of humor sometimes. As far as I care to talk about him, his problems seem to stem from his upbringing." The vixen paused eyeing Twilight with a look of concern?

"While we so few outside the capital call him Emperor Nero, his actual title is Emperor Kichiro. Many say his name means 'lucky son' and so he was never told no properly. That's why I say that his problems stem fro his upbringing. No one in their right mind would ever say no to what he demanded, and those that did simply disappeared." Misako finished. She stared up from her tea eyeing Twilight with a flair of anger in her eyes.

"So why don't the people just over-" She was quickly silenced by the reynard who held her paw firmly to Twilight's mouth before looking around the room, looking for things that weren't there. Slowly, she let her paw up from her muzzle.

"You cannot just go around saying things like that Twilight! Even alone we could be watched by spies!" The reynard screeched out, before continuing on.

"You'll get us both killed doing that! I thought you would have known better, working for that employer of yours!"

Twilight's eyes widened in surprise. Misako was correct, she had to be hush-hush with the details that went on with her job so, it was obvious that talking about the emperor of a large country out in the open would probably lead to some unsavory places. Needless to say, the lavender pony was surprised at her lack of filter, and even more so that Misako had shown a side of fury. In her time of knowing the reynard, she had shown many different emotions: happiness, laughter, sadness, a brutal honesty, but she had never seen anger or her being scared. It was as if she was speaking to a whole different vulpine. It kinda scared her.

Misako soon let go of her, unaware that she had started to shake the girl, before redirecting her tone of voice to take on the subtlety that she was known for.

"I apologize, but one does not simply speak about the Emperor without it coming back to bite you. Now, on the term of the subject, you were asking about what the country is like besides here correct? I assume this is because you want to know more about the country? You always do show a fascination towards books."

Twilight was glad that today had not been a complete day of sunshine, and that the clouds partially blocked out the light since she would have glowed if not for them. While there weren't many books that she could read, she definitely wasn't incorrect in saying that she had a fascination towards them.

"Well, Yeah. That kind of was the reason. It's alright here, but I kinda want to see more of this place. I don't wanna be cooped up in one town for the rest of my life. Is there something wrong with that?" Twilight asked, looking at her companion for the answer.

"Dear Twilight, no there is not. To explore is another way to experience the wonders of life. Unfortunately, many experience the "wonders of life" in ways that they never wanted to, similar to how you were when you first came here." She chuckled at the memory, remembering that before she would kind of probe Misako every few minutes, asking a question about the place.

"And while I do not see any reason to fully deny you, I understand that I must do this. I cannot allow you to leave Twilight." Misako said as she stood to her full height, despite her age it was clear that her life had moments of strife in them, small signs underneath her fur showing cuts and grazes though they went largely unnoticed by Twilight.

Twilight had to adjust her head to even match Misako's face, the reynard now being a couple of inches past her height. She had never noticed it before, she surmised that she never saw a need to, until now.

"Oh, that's good. I just wanted to- wait." She almost bit her tongue stumbling on her words.

"What do you mean you can't?" She asked simply, keening her head in confusion.

"Because you can't fight." Misako simply put it. Twilight's confusion simply bumped up even higher now that she recalled what Misako said properly.

"I can fight! I've done it before!"

"Oh really Twilight? If you can fight, simply attack me right now." The vulpine simply said, before sitting down, and picking up her tea, taking a short sip while watching the mare. Twilight was about to say something about Misako's willingness for her to be attacked but quickly stuffed it. She knew that words wouldn't appeal to her, especially since she had known her for long enough.

She decided to take a slow approach, walking around Misako, eyeing her, looking for blind spots like she had learned from many different books when she was younger. The reynard hadn't moved from her spot, and simply watched Twilight as she came from behind her, still sipping on her tea. This was her chance, take it now!

Twilight dove forward with her left hoof in the air, only for her to promptly slip and fall. She looked back, glaring at her legs in confusion, before looking back at Misako to find that she wasn't there at all. she was to her side, sipping tea from her cup, as she was doing mere moments before.

"I did not think you were so... clumsy. I did not expect to be able to move you to that extent."

Misako eyed her with a toothy grin, before disappearing into another part of the house, coming back with a kettle in tow. No words were exchanged from the two as she filled her cup again, and as she sat down she began to speak.

"Would you like to try again?"

Twilight gritted her teeth before picking herself up again. She was going to be at this for awhile.