Me, a king? Bah! (2)

When I was first called a ‘King’, I thought these ponies were stupid.

It just felt too simple for them to simply give to the one that slain Sombra the title of ruler, the one that would decide their fate beyond the passing of the tyrant. I was keen to believe I was the sanest among a bunch of illogical individuals that were starving for common sense and understanding that a choice of this caliber just wasn’t intelligent and far from clever.

It took me just a day to change that perspective. And it wasn’t self-contemplation that led me to finally understand why the Crystal Ponies eagerly submitted to the ‘easiest’ claimant to the throne. First, the entire chair made of dark crystals was quickly replaced by something less flashy and less deadly to beings that weren’t capable of withstanding the horrible effects of the dangerous gems.

The entire chair was a little less prominent than many thrones I had the chance of seeing in legit throne rooms or those that were displayed in movies and documentaries. It wasn’t something that had been built with care, time, and attention since the need had been immediate and the construction had been driven by a sense of urgency. I didn’t mind its appearance despite the numerous apologies I was thrown over the ‘lacking quality’, mostly because I was more concerned that it wasn’t sturdy and unpleasant to sit on. I really didn’t need the Iron Throne to annoy the patience out of me. Especially if I was meant to keep up with the entire ordeal I was suddenly pulled in.

Me, a monarch? It just felt absurd. While I did study politics on my way to gain my greater understanding in Economics, mostly due to the first two years of Uni being packed with history regarding world-wide politics, governments and economic moves. While I generally didn’t have much recollection of most of those times, I still remembered clearly how medieval models were supposed to work.

Although absurd and insane for me to grasp the fact that these ponies would have just accepted eagerly the easiest choice to a new ruler, the truth was that there wasn’t much of a choice for them to pick from. Sombra didn’t have any family, and I doubted they would have bowed to any child the bastard could have tried to sire during his time in power. It just was paradoxical to imagine the antithesis of what ‘Love’ stands for to try to ‘bond’ and gain an heir out of this. Without a clear dynastic line to follow, it was either anarchy or debate heatedly who could have been tied to the monarch before Sombra and put them on the throne.

The issue with that second option? There was no chronicle to remember that. Sombra had seen for himself to destroy anything that could have been used for a possible stable reconstruction in case he was beaten. It had been one of those cases the villain decided to ‘win beyond defeat’. Sadly, ‘that win’ wasn’t exactly one that couldn’t be beaten back with due understanding and planning.

Now that I sitting on the throne, I had the chance of giving a proper look to my ‘subjects’ and see that, despite the Crystal Heart giving them a ‘shinier’ look after being quickly placed down on the construct below the castle and activated to properly purge the negative energy left behind by Sombra, I could see the truest reason why they were quick to pick me as their king.

While I didn’t notice this earlier on because of the way the guards’ armors covered their torsos, I could see the problematic element that drove them to eagerly accept me as their newest rules. I could see they were thin. I could see their ribs on some, even the smaller ones, the fillies and the colts. I was… perplexed and upset by that mere sight.

It was common for tyrants and dictators to bring their people to starvation. While it severely affects the efficiency of the work and the capacity of production of essential goods, the main purpose of this practice was to keep the people, in this case the Crystal Ponies, to be unable to fight back his influence. To curb rebellions by depriving them of the chance of even trying to fight back.

It was horrible and… I knew I had to do something about this at once. While they seemed mostly ‘fine’ despite the numerous centuries of having been subjected to this practice, I doubted everypony was truly really that healthy and capable of making some steps beyond their workplace without collapsing on themselves.

The first two edicts I enacted just as I was proclaimed king and inquired about my orders for the day was… a banquet. And mandatory medical checkups. The doctors, or healers as they were still defined by the Crystal Empire, were to be paid through the royal treasury as this was an affair caused by the monarch before me.

I didn’t spare too many words on the topic. I knew some were surprised, all between the fact a bipedal was more than happily granting them a day off, the chance of resting and recovering so I could think of a way to employ them in different workplaces. I had the chance of briefly glancing at the deadly tower of paper and ink that needed to be studied and signed before I genuinely gave up on trying to brave the paperwork that same day.

I was a little bit tired, and my brain was still trying to calmly reorganize after this entire mess had fully employed. I was in Equestria- no, I was in Equus. From a quick explanation from my newest advisors, I knew that Equestria was a country, but not the name of the full continent we were in. It was a quick reminder that things just weren’t limited to a few petty kingdoms and a massive one that was eventually going to exist by the southern border.

I trusted Shadow Mark the most due to the diligence he showed since the first hours of my reign, the crystal pony having brought papers, maps and having spared minimal surprise at my appearance. He did ask a couple of questions about my species, any medical conditions he should have been aware of and other minimal aspects. I was keen to keep myself curt with my responses, handing out the relevant and more important bits rather than stick through some unneeded details. The Stallion had dark-blue fur and a short but curly light-gray mane and tail, while his eyes were inquisitive light-blue ones. His Cutie Mark was an ink blot with what looked to be a couple of white dots that led to a white x, like a map or something akin to that kind of topography.

He stood out the most through his lack of reluctance to make his voice heard. Not because I was limiting the chances of the advisors to speak, but because, out of the five or six ponies that were employed as advisors, he was the one making the most interventions through my own questions and the one asking the most out of them all. I was surprised at his tenacity, but I could tell most of this was due to his age.

Most of the advisors had to have been submitted to Sombra for many years now, while Shadow Mark looked to have been around for just a year or two from his own words of ‘having been employed recently’.

I didn’t question him on exactly when he was first taken in, but he seemed fairly prepared and confident in his role, so I decided to trust his guidance for the time being. I wasn’t exactly going to fall for the whole ‘friendly mindset’ that ponies were known to have. I was a man driven by common sense most of the time and I know that expectations were meant to be overturned one way or another.

Nonetheless, I was confirmed as the ruler of this land and… the official fixer of the many problems that were rising up as Sombra was no longer screwing things up in an absolute tyranny. I had to create a plan to introduce proper education, specialization, the creation of new workplaces for the Crystal Ponies beyond being soldiers of the Imperial Army or miners at the caves, the reformation of healthcare and much more.

This is why the paperwork was so tall and imposing since day one, and why I was really unhappy about having to take on this challenge on my own. Like, I was really trying to get back home but this was going to make things troublesome for myself.

I was no jerk, so I really didn’t want to ditch ponies that were so desperately latching onto me for support. I was their beacon of home through happier times, and… leaving now was just going to count as a prick more, regardless of how much I wanted to.

I blamed my relative understanding of unpleasant plights as this one, but I really needed to find a solution to this. And really fast. But despite the tense first hours of my ‘crowning’, the banquet seemed to bring out a sense of calm and peace out of this development that squashed away any nervousness.

I glanced around as I stood at the head of the central long table that was currently holding some of the representatives I had to speak with during the first session of court. There were other banquets set all over the city, which I couldn’t exactly see unfolding from the situation I was stuck with. I wasn’t exactly someone social at parties. Not that I disliked those, but I really wasn’t keen on giving too much effort during those circumstances.

Still, I was granted some amusing sights as I saw how funny some of the Crystal Ponies were when drunk. Some really didn’t seem to hold the alcohol, quickly engaging in silly acts the moment their brain was completely influenced by the beer and wine dispensed for the occasion. They were all fun drunks, and I was more than happy to let them pull some interesting cuddle piles after some silly bickering.

A couple of guards watched, amused grins shared among them as they doubted just as I was that anything bad was going to really come out of this. The same seemed to happen all over in the city from the messages coming from the other guards assigned to keep watch over the other banquets.

It was a calming sight for certain, and, while it really didn’t nothing to help me handle the overall terrifying rebuilt process I would need to plan out with utter attention and carefulness with what budget I had at my disposal, it made for a good thing to see before going to sleep and, as I was led to my bedroom and confirmed the time I was supposed to wake up to face the first duties as the monarch, I took this opportunity to lie down and think.

Nothing really serious, I was genuinely tired and wasted this last few minutes of awareness dabbling in some topics that despite being silly were still fairly interesting to take into account.

Like, why does the Crystal Empire have Day-Night cycles if it’s supposed to be detached from the world as a whole. Was I missing a bit of lore or something like that?

And then, once again, was I going to worry about the cakes in this nation if Celestia decided to visit?

What about Gamer Luna? Is she real? Because I really want that to be real.

----------d-d-d-d-----------

The new day began slowly and fairly calmly.

I slowly opened my eyes to the mostly unfamiliar ceiling above my head. The bed chambers that I had requested were, by my own orders, not the same one used by Sombra. While it would have been proper for a monarch to rest in the same royal chambers as the predecessors, I doubted the place was exactly meant to be used with how many spells could have been set up to spring at any intrusion. Sure, the Crystal Heart did a fine job purging dark magic, but not all magic was bad and some traps could be achieved through normal magic.

Which, hopefully, were going to be found the moment some specialists were employed to check for this to be indeed the case or not. Nonetheless, it took me a few seconds to remember what happened yesterday and-

Knock Knock.

I blinked, turning to slowly glance at the only door of the room and wondering who was checking on me when I was quite sure I had already agreed to the hour I was supposed to be up and diving into the pile of documents that needed to be looked at.

I lifted myself up from the pillow I had my head resting in and decided to check if this was normal.

“Who is it?” I asked loud enough for the one on the other side of the door to answer.

“Y-Your highness?” A feminine voice spoke beyond the closed door. “It’s… the High Commander requested your presence for something important.”

The old guy leading the guards? I was quite sure I had the discussion with him after lunch, at least that was what I sent as a message to him. And it was morning from the simple clock by the bedside. I sighed, knowing that it had to be something really big for him to just call with such urgency.

“I’ll be there soon,” I replied flatly, standing up from bed and picking up the jacket I had placed on the ground. I didn’t exactly have sleepwear, so I just slept without the jacket. I had an appointment to the royal tailor a little before lunch, just as I was done with the first session of paper-signing and the reconvening of the court for the ‘first official day’.

But as I was done putting on the jacket, I heard the individual on the other side speak up again.

“Your Highness. I-I don’t wish to interrupt but… may I speak with you in private?” The pony asked. “I-I mean, if it’s not asking too much. I don’t wish to be a burden and-”

An odd request, but not one I was planning to refuse.

“I’m decent. You may enter if your request is genuinely important.”

The door creaked open moments after I said that, I heard the pony enter the room with a cautious and nervous step. I glanced around, stopping to look at the little maid that had decided to boldly inquire for some assistance.

Just like the rest of the crystal ponies, this one has a particularly glimmer from her light-brown fur. Her long dark-brown mane was twisted in a partial bun, leaving a few locks trail down to her back and rest onto her tiny dress. That very dress also hid her cutie mark since the skirt stretched a little over her rump. I took just a glance at her topaz eyes and I knew that I wasn’t exactly dealing with someone that was prepared for this kind of circumstances.

If she was feeling awkward about meeting a monarch, imagine my personal distress in being the monarch and having to handle a nervous subject. A cute subject at that since the entire maid outfit made her extra cuter compared to the others.

I… I want to head pat her.

I restrained myself despite how strong of an urge I had over that simple but potentially rude action. I nodded at her.

“So, what do you require, Miss-”

“C-Cinnamon Velvet. I-I mean-”

“Nice to meet you, Cinnamon. Can we skip at the request so I can get through with my bathroom routine?”

Her jaws dropped at the genuine lack of interest in entertaining most of her reluctance to speak. I was really trying to keep myself from calling out the unnecessary stuttering. Sure, it sounded like a dumb twist to my usual modest approach to things, but… it was morning. I wasn’t exactly up and working optimally since I needed a coffee or at least an hour or two of relative quiet to get my brain running at full efficiency.

“A-Apologies, I didn’t mean to- to sound too sudden,” She replied quietly and I sighed.

“I don’t recall chiding you. Only asking for you to bring up the point that urged you to seek my assistance,” I hummed calmly. “So… what is it about?”

…

“Y-Your highness, I wish to- to ask you for the release of my brother.”

…

“Can you tell me some more about it? Why was he arrested?” I inquired some more, feeling rather curious since I actually didn’t delve too much onto the chances of prisoners being a thing. I always thought that Sombra was the kind of prick that would rather kill ponies rather than let them rot in a dungeon. Then again, he is a prick and not much of an efficient ruler.

“He was- He was too tired to actually work properly and- and he was taken away because of it.”

“How old?”

…

“S-Sixteen.”

Jesus Christ, I can’t help but hate the bastard even more as I learned further about the evil he perpetrated in his own kingdom. He was isolated, he could have allowed some slack to his workers if he truly didn’t want to keep paying to maintain a proper dungeon.

Still, the decision I had to take here and now was pretty clear and I merely nodded as I requested to be brought to where the Dungeons were. Cinnamon was surprised by my calm demand, inquiring with her minor stuttering hindering her speech about my bathroom routine. I didn’t give her a proper answer, saying just that I wanted to solve this mistake at once. I didn’t tell her that I was really doing my best to not give my brain enough time to come up with ugly scenarios to entertain my little trip to the lower bowel of the castle. My steps were filled with unclear determination, with most of my uncertainty held within as I kept the strongest form I could get out of my posture and stance.

The trip was brief, but I definitely felt it being longer than just a few minutes. I recognized that some of my thoughts were true the moment I started to smell the rotting flesh and the decaying bones approaching with each step we took, and eventually I paused before the tense-looking guards that stood at the entrance of the lengthy hallway filled with cells.

“Your highness,” The oldest stallion greeted sternly, matching with the military position he was holding. “We didn’t expect a visit from you.”

“Nor I had planned to make a visit to begin with until this young mare asked me to check on something fairly important,” I said while indirectly gesturing at the uneasy-looking Cinnamon standing on my right. “I suppose you have a list of names of those that are currently imprisoned in the dungeon.”

The veteran nodded, while the younger guard looked at me with a confused look.

“Are you… Are you planning to free them, your highness?” He ultimately asked, flinching as he noticed his superior sharply turn around and give him a strict glare for speaking out of order.

“It’s alright,” I conceded with a sigh. “And… it’s a strong possibility. I will study case by case and see if they are all imprisoned wrongly and thus in need to be immediately freed of this horrible punishment. Also… on an even more serious note, I reckon you might have in your possession, either around or in an archive, the list with those that died here.”

The old guard nodded. “Yes sir.”

“I wish for that very list to be given to Shadow Mark. I will see that he keeps hold of it so we will do something about it. Starting with alerting the families of these losses,” I remarked quietly. “Now please, take the young maid to see her brother. And have him freed and brought to a healer if he requires medical assistance.”

“It shall be done, your highness,” The stallion confirmed and I nodded.

I turned to Cinnamon and sighed. “I hope your brother is fine. For now I will leave you to handle this.”

She nodded, giving me a bright smile that just tripled her adorableness in a mere instant.

“T-Thank you, your highness!”

Do. Not. Head pat.

I nodded back, offering a quick smile before taking my leave and getting back on my current duties. At this point I couldn’t just go back in my room, and I could technically skip the routine if I managed to get a bath after lunch. Since I was having that meeting with the High Commander this soon, it shouldn’t be difficult to manage it within the schedule.

A yawn left my lips before I entered the room where the high officer was waiting for me. The stallion had dark fur that was graying, his short white hair and pale gray eyes making it a little less difficult to determine his proper age. His cutie mark was a gray sword sheathed into the back of a violet shield. He was wearing a military jacket, on the left side of it a couple of small medals. Nothing tells him that he was that much important, but I guess Sombra just didn’t care enough to pack the chief of the military with any encomium beyond those I could see.

“Your highness,” He greeted confidently, yet something was missing from his voice. The edge of youth was definitely gone, and the brief cough that left his mouth further accentuated how weaker he was compared to his prime. “Apologies for the sudden request. I would have thought you would have brought some advisors to-”

“It’s not a needed step, and I would like to address this urgent matter as quickly as possible. Else it wouldn’t warrant the urgency it comes with,” I interrupted calmly. “But I also believe that we both can find some agreements on a couple of points I wanted to discuss with you, High Commander Platinum Blitz.”

He looked surprised at the forwardness, but overall fascinated by the bluntness and confidence I was displaying in that moment. Men of the military preferred to discuss about anything related to the military only when they knew that they were talking with confident leaders. And right now, I needed to show top-notch confidence to avoid messing things up.

"Then I suppose we can move forward to the topics we have to discuss about. Most of those are about the current state of the army, and I wish to know your stance about the matter once you've properly read this report I saw fit styling for you to see and study from."

I nodded. While many would have been annoyed by the extra step taken for this situation, I wasn't planning to irritate the head of the military, and... I really wasn't that sure about how many things were to be applied for the sake of sparing the nation from a bloated army of unwilling conscripts.

"A sudden demobilization?" I inquired calmly, surprised at this take on the situation. Sure, I knew that the situation was bad but... that bad? "Do you believe that is actually doable without depleting too much the current military manpower at our disposal?"

The old pony nodded, unconsciously having one of his arms- hooves move to fix his jacket. "The state of the army isn't at peak as it was when everyone was brainwashed. King So- The monster had used many spells to control the minds of the unwilling, turning them in dull puppets for him to control and manipulate. Without this, there is no cohesion and despite how dreadful of a decision this is, I have to ask this to you. Too many have already voiced dissent in remaining in the army, and it would prevent full collapse."

"Then I suppose a demobilization is in order. I didn't mean to sound reluctant to take this approach, but I found worrying if we are to defend our borders when the Empire is brought back to the world proper," I elaborated on my thoughts, still agreeing to his point. I could see a degree of relief wash over his features, and I could tell that the elder has been in active service for a long time, decades even, from the way he looked so tired and... in need to rest.

While I had limited experience about the military and most of it was tied to RTS games, I still had some live narration from my own grandfather about his own father's experience in Africa back in WW2. Very unpleasant, the guy had been just an engineer that was drafted to the Colonial Army and was spared when captured. I didn't expect things to go that bleak since I knew nobody had guns, artilleries and other modern technologies meant to kill multiple individuals at once.

Unless someone knew how to turn magical brigades in mortar operators capable of throwing long-range explosive spells at their enemies.

"I'm glad to hear this from you, your highness. I wish to also point out that such instance would also allow us to make use of more workers. I understand you don't wish to resume jobs by the mines, at least until the traumas related to the practice are forever dealt with," Platinum added with a determined voice. "The first priority-"

"Is to create an economy that will survive the crash of the Crystal market," I interjected with a serious voice, drawing a frown out of the old pony since I had used terms that might not be tied just yet to economics. "Since I doubt Crystal Ponies will be that keen to buy crystals as much as they should due to the scare still being a thing, I know that the best solution is to invest in other minerals. Perhaps we could try and develop something regarding gold or silver- maybe even try to shift part of the production in agriculture now that we have a couple of fertile plots of lands that need to be tended about."

"And many of the soldiers are specialized in those sectors. I see that you are planning to focus for the well-being of the citizens first by aiming to a stable economy."

"A happy citizen is one that is able to bring bread back home after a tough but doable day of work," I commented with a nod. "I seek to make sure the ponies here are able to gain dignity in their work. To make their lives their own to live and enjoy to the fullest."

Platinum gave me a surprised look, but also one that seemed to study more my intentions through my current expression.

"You mean good words, my king. I hope you will succeed if this is indeed your ambition."

I nodded. "It's what will happen. Alas, I would also discuss about reforming the army."

"A reformation?"

"Since the Guards have the dual function of securing internal problems and being the protectors of external threats, I was thinking of creating a force that is less-equipped than the army-side of the Guards but more flexible when it comes to handle issues within the nation."

"A militia?"

"I was still thinking of something professional. A police force which main purpose is to be the group that helps preventing crimes and bad deeds from unfolding within the streets."

"That could intrigue many of those that are leaving the army. Some might fight the army life troublesome, but they would definitely seek to join a group that focuses on genuinely protecting other ponies."

I nodded. "I'm glad to hear that we have many common grounds, but I wish to ultimately return to the army situation. You didn't mention a specific date in which we could try to resume conscription through normal means."

"That's because I can't currently estimate this myself. I might require a group of officers to-"

"Done," I interrupted the elder. "You shall be granted the task to assemble a general staff which purpose is to create strategies both in times of peace and during wartime. But I expect reports over this important subject on a weekly basis. In about six months from now, we will have a proper meeting to verify if it is doable to properly resume conscription or not."

"I will not disappoint you for this trust you're putting on me, your highness," Platinum accepted, pushing back any surprises at the smoothness of this process. "Finally, I believe we can discuss about... What to do with Equestria."

I blinked. "I think that can wait when the Empire is brough back in the real map."

"About that..." The old pony mumbled with a degree of unexpected nervousness.

…

I had to ask for a repetition on his explanation since I really thought he had said things wrong. But now I knew, while I was sleeping and confusedly pondering over why there was no a sun and a moon above our heads, I had failed to realize that, now that Sombra was out of the games, the Crystal Empire was back on the big world map.

And that this meant I had a couple of troubles to face as soon as I was done with the issues I still had to deal back at the home front. Like paperwork. So I was rightfully panicking as, just a few minutes after the meeting was over, a messenger requested to speak with me as he brought an important letter for me to read. A letter that had some serious chances of compromising my current survival if I didn’t take proper steps. Else I had to make my prayers now to not get rainbow’d to the next dimension.

A small entourage from Equestria. One of them was a pink Alicorn that bore a message of friendship while her husband was one of the highest officers in Equestria. And in that moment, my brain exploded with multiple panicked thoughts and ill-conceived scenarios about what I was really supposed to do about it.

Only a way to handle this! I will… invite them for lunch!

Author's Note

AN

This is, of course, not going to devolve into a pseudo-date. And it definitely it’s notgoing to end with a certain Alicorn exploiting the current worried mindset of the human to tease him to death.