Shadowmere

Shadowmere was only mildly impressed by Canterlot. Sure the city's white marble walls and gold rooftops were impressive, but some cities concealed their dark side behind a beautiful façade. Canterlot, he was relieved to discover, was not such a place.

There were no obvious signs of poverty in the city, unless they were well concealed and there was very little, if any, crime. If the Divines could see Equestria, they would have died envying it as it was everything they aspired for Nirn to be.

The trio of Shadowmere, Luna and Celestia had teleported in just in front of the main gate and Shadowmere was, as usual, attracting attention. Some wondered who he was while others queried his massive size. Yet more wondered what he was doing with their much-loved princesses.

He snorted upon seeing the unicorn guards. These weren't proper warriors, merely stallions in too-clean armour standing too straight with weapons in immaculate condition. He dreaded to think what would happen if the city was threatened by anything other than a light breeze.

Celestia pointed out her Academy for Gifted Unicorns (Shadowmere pegged it as the College of this world and resolutely decided to stay the hell away from it.), a racetrack (Shadowmere recalled the snail racing by the held by bored guardsmen outside cities) and an art gallery. He despised art.

And, as he had guessed, the city was full of nobles in various states of either making money, fawning over the princesses or trying to prove themselves to be be better than the others.

Shadowmere had two uses for nobles: targets or contract givers. Many times in the Brotherhood's long history there had been wars between noble families, mostly around the Illiac Bay, fought through hiring the Dark Brotherhood. Shadowmere doubted it would be like the Illiac Bay.

"So what do I introduce you to the court as? Shadowmere?" Celestia waved a hoof in front of his face, bringing him out of his reverie. "Are you listening to me?"

"What? Oh sorry princess... Just remembering my views on nobles."

"I guess you don't like them?" Luna piped in.

"Hatred more properly describes it. They argue about who's best, who's done what and try to evade taxes and they think themselves so much better than every...pony else. Nothing useful ever came out came from a noble's mouth."

Celestia laughed. "The nobles here aren't so different. Except they keep trying to convince me to lower the tax laws." She made a face. "They persist despite the hundreds of times I told them no. I still need to know what to introduce you as, however."

Shadowmere thought for a while. "Hmmm... Half the titles I hold are either meaningless or you wouldn't understand. Do you have dukes here?"

Celestia turned to Luna as they crossed the drawbridge into the castle. "Do we have dukes? you're more knowledgeable about law and titles than I ever have been."

Luna blushed slightly at the compliment. "It was a title of nobility during my time but I think the title fell into disuse during... my banishment." Her face hung in shame as she remembered what she had done.

"Then you may formally introduce me as Duke Shadowmere of Mania in the Shivering Isles, Silencer, and Equestria's new spymaster and chief of experimental magical mechanisms and machinery." Shadowmere decided to leave out that he wasn't actually the Duke of Mania but more like a candidate as Sheogorath hadn't granted the position yet.

Celestia winced at the long list of titles. "The first two are your own titles and mark you as nobility of some far-off place , but are you asking for titles from me? I thought you hated nobility."

"I need an excuse to remain at your court, and as I am going to be setting up my shock fences, I thought I needed a position that would enable me to do that. As for Spymaster, well somepony needs to investigate what the threat is and who better than me, the only horse assassain and spy in Equestria?"

Celestia nodded grudgingly as they continued into the castle. "That reminds me, we need to have a long talk about your... History. But that is a matter for another day. Sister, would you please show Shadowmere to the guest chambers while I begin court and feel free to catch up on your sleep. Court today isn't as important as you getting proper rest." And with that Celestia walked towards the throne room, leaving Shadowmere and Luna alone in the hall.

"Follow me." Luna headed off down a side corridor with Shadowmere close behind. "I guess you and I will be working together, then."

"What?" Shadowmere asked in confusion to the slightly smaller alicorn.

"You're Equestria's new Spymaster, which means you'll be part of my Night Court."

"Night Court?"

"Celestia's Day Court handles any domestic and civil matters while my Night Court handles... More sensitive matters."

Shadowmere smiled. "So it isn't all bright in Equestria after all... Who else is in the Night Court?"

Luna's face went bleak. "My Court isn't as full as Celestia's, but I like it that way. It means we get more done. It has me, you, Black Cloak who is the Captain of my Night Guard and occasionally Celestia if she turns up. Sometimes it does get lonely though. Your rooms are down there, third door on the right." Luna motioned with her head. "The Court begins at midnight. Don't be late."

It was Connor's second day in Equestria, and Shadowmere had already abandoned him to face the horrors of a Pinkie Pie party alone. At least watching the portal gave him somthing other to do than wait for the party when it hit. He had already recieved a warning from Twilight about Pinkie and he was not in the mood for talking to over-exciteable pink ponies.

Sure the shock fence was cool and it had even enchanted his greatsword after he stuck it in, but after a while it got boring and so he settled down to The Art of War by a Akaviri named Uzt Nus.

Twilight poked her head through the door and smiled. "I never thought you were the reading type."

Connor smiled. "Nothing else to do when you're hunkered down on a mountain road, waiting for a Imperial patrol to ambush.

"Who are these 'Imperials' anyway? Shadowmere mentioned he killed their Emperor but not much else..."

"The Imperials used to rule a Empire that spanned the continent. 200 years ago, the last Emperor died heirless and various factions appeared, vying for either independence like the An-Xileel or those racist bastards called the Thalmor or trying to take control of the Empire. The Thalmor invaded Hammerfell, my homeland, and after years of fighting, we forced them out. Ulfric Stormcloak rebelled in Skyrim and lost. Elsweyr allied with the Thalmor. Morrowind is under the control of the An-Xileel of Black Marsh, who are fighting the Empire. Nothing's been heard out of High Rock for ages."

"Your world sounds like a terrible place to live."

Connor laughed. "I suppose it is Twilight, but the beer and mead make up for it."

"Beer and mead?"

Connor cringed. Did this mean these ponies hadn't discovered the wonder that is alcohol? "Don't you have alcohol?"

"There is some wine, but it is really expensive to buy in Equestria. Punch is alcohol, but not very strong."

"Looks like I'll have to go back and pick up a wagonload." Connor stared at the portal. Is that big enough for a wagon, he mused silently.