Reign of the Diamond Emperor

If I had access to tobacco, I would smoke constantly to calm my nerves, standing tall on my throne. With a steady hand, I removed my gauntlet and stroked Fallen's mane, resting on my knees, but my gaze remained icy, despite the relaxation her brought me…

Only two days after launching my first attack, I had already distributed the loot evenly among my men. Alongside Bandit, I spent the night sorting through books worthy of my interest, despite my limited mastery of the Equestrian language. Two shelves of knowledge were to the right of my throne.

The modernization of my men's equipment was underway, but I couldn't exhaust my blacksmiths with assembly-line work. For now, the priority was adding canteens and standardizing armor to avoid light reflections.

I also regularly sent scouts to survey the ashes of the hamlet, to see if the column of smoke hadn't attracted any unwanted attention near my mountain.

As for the unicorn foal I had retrieved, I decided to name him Menial Horned. He was in isolation in total darkness until I could mold him in my image.

I continued to plan the next steps of my operations with an icy determination. It would be imperative to remain in the shadows while the embers of the hamlet were still hot...

I had acted too impulsively, rushing without having all the necessary data. This mistake would not be repeated. I needed to gather an arsenal of knowledge, understand the intricacies of magic, and unravel the mysteries surrounding the princesses. Nothing would be left to chance.

I thought about all of this while Fallen did her best to conceal her reactions. It was clear that she appreciated my small gestures.

With a firm gesture, I extended my free hand to grab one of the books on my table, right next to my helmet. The purple cover, adorned with a horseshoe and a star in the center, revealed the 'Friendship Journal'... A book that would normally have ended up in the flames... However, the princesses and their friends had shared life lessons. If I could extract even a fragment of usefulness to use against them, it would be a promising start.

My informants had also revealed to me the existence of a recent conflict, where Equestria's victory had hung by a thread. Three of the most formidable threats had converged, and how they had overcome this trial was a crucial mine of information, but none of these useless informants were present to give me the information I needed.

I immersed myself in the reading, absorbing every word, etching into my memory the information that could prove to be vital.

I had devoured a large portion of the adventures anthology of the six, a reading that had surprisingly entertained me. Nevertheless, these mares possessed powers almost divine. In the current state of my empire, I felt powerless, while they seemed capable of single-handedly defeating an army. Especially when considering that all my subjects were far from united under my banner...

Immersed in my thoughts for the future of our empire, I was pulled from my meditation by Bandit's voice. 'You okay, boss?'

A sigh escaped my lips. 'I'm thinking about the future of our empire, Bandit. Have the slaves completed their task?'

'Yes, the table you requested should arrive, but the map copies won't be ready for a while.'

'I know. Have you found qualified personnel to locate my subjects and convince them to join my empire?' My response was brief and sharp.

'Boss, why don't you use...' He couldn't finish his sentence; I cut him off abruptly.

"Enslaving the historical enemies of my people is one thing, but what emperor would abuse his power to do the same to his own people?" another sigh escaped my lips. "Yes, I had to use that power on you when I entered this room. It was necessary to put an end to the influence of your former leader, who would have led you straight to ruin. But I seek only the good of my subjects..." Bandit lowered his head, filled with shame. I had employed this power as a last resort, and there was no need to specify that to my right-hand man.

"Yes, Boss..." he replied in a low voice. A cold silence settled in until the sounds of hooves and chains echoed in the corridor, accompanied by fierce barking. My granite table was brought in and placed in my throne room by four earth ponies. I continued to stroke Fallen with a sly smile, letting my hand slide down her side and lightly brush the soft skin between her hind legs, causing her to shiver.

Some earth ponies noticed this gesture, their palpable disgust evident in their unflinching gazes. Division was a powerful tool for maintaining control.

"Perfect, Bandit, you may go. Bring me those you deem qualified to be diplomats. I will make the selection myself." I waited for everyone to leave the room before turning to Fallen.

I repositioned her on my lap, placing her front hooves on my shoulders. Our gazes met at the same height, and I embraced her gently before kissing her fiercely for several seconds. Surprise and confusion were evident in her eyes when I finally set her down gently on the ground. "I'll attend to you later, Fallen. For now, I have work to do." I love to play with her filing…

I unfolded a rough map of Equestria. While it wasn't perfect, it at least indicated the major cities. We were a four-hour walk from the nearest railway tracks, in the mountains near Filly Delphia.

I opened the secret compartment of my throne to retrieve "The Eternal Canine Diamond," placing it around my neck before returning to the map. "I, Emperor Edward, ruler of the Diamond Empire, command that the presence of the Diamond Dog packs be revealed on this map!" The collar sent a painful electric shock through me as certain areas of the map darkened.

Taking off the collar, I caught my breath, smiling despite the pain. There was a pack two days' march away, a perfect test. I returned to sit on my throne, gesturing for Fallen to come back onto my lap, then picked up another book at random. "Read me the contents, Fallen." It was a book recounting the history, likely in a romanticized manner, of the two sisters Luna and Celestia. I assumed it was the equivalent of their goddesses, although I doubted the reality of them raising the sun and the moon.

I only interrupted this when Bandit returned with an elderly dog. "Are you sure of your choice, Bandit?" My icy gaze fixed on the old dog.

"Yes, boss," he replied, nodding. I had no doubt in him.

"What's your name?" I scrutinized the old dog, looking for any sign of weakness or doubt.

"I am Argos, my emperor. It is an honor to be able to speak with you." I appreciated his tone.

"For me, Argos, there is only one way to prove your effectiveness." I gestured towards the map. "There is a group of Diamond Dogs two days' march away." I let a silence linger, observing his reaction.

"Do you want me to rally them to our banner, my emperor?" His response was filled with determination.

"Indeed. I will leave you with two of my personal guards to escort you, but if you haven't returned within a week..." A heavy silence hung. "I will consider that they have killed you and will come to spill their blood myself."

Argos showed no hesitation. "I understand, my emperor. I will do everything in my power to rally these dogs to our cause and return within the allotted time. You will not be disappointed."

I gave him a brief nod. "That is what I expect from you, Argos. The future of our empire depends on how easily we can rally our own."

He bowed respectfully. "Thank you, my emperor. I will depart as soon as possible."

I gestured for him to leave, then turned to Bandit. "Make sure he has everything he needs for this mission."

Bandit nodded. "Of course, boss. I will ensure he is well-equipped and escorted by your guards."

Once Bandit was gone, I refocused on the spread-out map before me. Strategy and diplomacy were essential to solidify my empire. I left the throne room, heading towards the cells, interrogating any still-injured slaves about the last knowledge they had of the world...

A waste of time, they had no new information to offer, and it seemed I had broken the neck of the only knowledgeable person in the village.

I moved through my mountain with imposing confidence, my armor complete. Despite the darkness and confinement, the atmosphere was electric, vibrating with an underlying energy. The underground city was not just an enclave; it was a hidden kingdom, a complex labyrinth of tunnels and chambers where civilization had found its own essence, its own vigor in the shadows.

My kingdom, my responsibility. When my designs were complete, they could return to the surface, freed from the oppression that the ponies had subjected them to. My subjects did not fear me, but they respectfully stepped aside as I passed, greeting me with deference. I made sure to acknowledge their homage every time. My authority was unquestioned, yet they loved me. My reign was a balance of respect and admiration, and that was how I wanted it to be.