//------------------------------// // Some Time Apart // Story: Sugar Hoof the Wizard Colt // by Furenstein //------------------------------// I sat at my desk in my bedroom and read the scrolls Birch and the treants had gotten for me when they interrogated the slaves. Birch and two other treants I had not named kneeled behind me, usually they would've left immediately, so I figure they wanted something. "These reports are promising, a kingdom of ponies ruled by two wizards, one of solar magic, the other of lunar magic." I commended Birch and the treants for their work. Solar, Lunar, and Celestial magic were advanced courses that never truly became their own schools. Practitioners did not brag of their exploits with them because there never were any exploits. Celestial magic could boost your magical output, lunar magic was good for shape-shifting. For raw power, nothing topped solar magic. These two princesses, though, Celestia and Luna, were so advanced in their respective schools that the sun and moon move at their behest. Such power was unheard of back home, as the sun and moon were stationary. "This Griffonstone place too, sounds promising, especially with this missing 'idol of boreas,' it mentions here that it holds great power, but didn't mention what that power is." "This is all the griffon would tell us, master." Replied the treant. I stared at the three of them for a moment before putting the paper back down onto the desk and jumping off of my seat. "What is it the three of you want?" I asked, now on the floor. "Master, there are concerns among the treants that Birch is too loose with his interpretation of your orders." One of them said. Birch stayed still and silent as my eyes fell onto him. "More accurately, his occasion for handing out orders without even asking you." Birch had grown more free as of late, but I didn't doubt his loyalty to me. "The treants desire an answer, master. You gave Birch a name and clothing, but never outright stated that he's to be your Overseer." I looked at Birch, still dressed in the dark and light green robe he himself ordered to be made. "Birch," I stated, causing the treant's head to rise, "Tell me, what are the duties of an overseer?" I truly didn't know, thralls don't usually label themselves. "An overseer manages the thralls, slaves, and servants of their master. Ensuring they all work hard for their master, as well as keeping them in line, and even relaying orders." Birch replied, never breaking eye contact. I stared back at him, before looking at the other two treants beside him. The carpeted floor was interesting to look at all of a sudden as I thought of what to do next. This idol of boreas is something I'd like to add to my collection of mystical trinkets and oddities, even though I no longer have access to the rest of said collection. I know I can't trust my treants with this task, which means I will have to leave home for a time. The treants are a loyal lot, if not particularly bright, I need someone in charge while I'm gone. Someone higher than a mere overseer. I looked back at the three treants, still kneeling. "What status do I hold?" I asked seriously, I knew they considered me their master since I was the one who conjured the first twenty. "Master, you ... you're our master, our leader, our king, master of life, rightful ruler of all living things." "What? I'm not ruler of all living things!" I said, a bit louder than I expected. I had enough on my plate just 'ruling' the trees. "You are the master of life. All things blessed with life belong to you, master." "I'm the master of life MAGIC, I've spent decades to life magic's practice and study, I may have brought you all to life, but the rest of the planet is independent from me!" The treants looked down the same way the tree who jumped off the cliff had done, so I said that I forgave them and that they simply didn't know any better. This got them to perk up a little. "Besides, King Sugar Hoof is a ridiculous name. It sounds like something you'd read on a box of candy at the grocery store." I snickered. The three of them said, "Yes, Master," In unison. "Anyway, is there anyone else fitting to be overseer, besides Birch?" I asked, causing Birch's head to fall back down again. "Master, it would be an honor to serve as your overseer." Replied the one on the right of Birch a little too enthusiastically. "You believe you are capable of keeping the treants in line?" I asked. "Yes, Master. I shall work them hard in your name!" He growled, I liked his spirit if nothing else. "Fine, take Birch's robe, and from now on, your name is Elm." The treant shot up to his feet and thanked me aggressively. Birch grew more sullen with every word. I walked closer to him until i was able to look up into his eyes. "Birch, I want you to be my second-in-command." Birch, Elm, and the other treant were shocked at this. "Master, I have failed as your overseer, why would you honor me again?" He asked, confusion written on his face. "You did not fail me, Birch. I plan to be away for a while, and I need you to watch my home while I'm away. The Idol of Boreas has intrigued me, and I'd like to study it first hoof. "I can send a troop of treants to get it, master, you don't need to put yourself in harm's way." Birch tried to dissuade me. "No, I need to do this myself, and you can not try to stop me." I ordered to Birch's displeasure. "Yes, master." He said. "While I'm gone, no treant is to leave the immediate surrounding area. If someone shows up, capture them and hold them until I get back, three meals a day, one bath a day." "Yes, master." Birch had gotten out paper and quill as he wrote down what I ordered him to do. Without me here, this place will be far weaker. Don't get me wrong, 50,000 treants are good, but I was always the power house here. "While I'm away, You must continue to create treants, dig the cavern deeper and further, I intend to build an underground empire, and I'll need many treants to carry this out." "What number should we shoot for, master?" He asked, standing up and looking at me while writing. "My magic is imbued into the farms and the caverns, stop making treants when you stop being able to feed them all." I said, knowing that even then, that would be a lot of treants. "Yes, master." "You will need weapons and armor too." I said, thinking out loud. "Master?" Birch said, stopping his writing. "Weapons, I know you all have magic, but have some treants make some swords and armor. If none know how to forge weapons and armor, go to Klugetown, I'm sure you can find some blueprints to steal or trade for." Birch wrote more stuff down quickly before he looked over at me. "We'll get it done, Is that all, master?" "The scouts report of a wall separating the desert and the kingdom of Equestria, forty treants will escort us to this wall and let us all leave. This way, the slaves don't know who I am, and I can head off to Griffonstone." "Master, this really doesn't seem safe." Birch said. "I'll be fine, you worry about your work and defending my home, I'll be fine." I said, "Now, I must prepare, go fulfill your duties." I said, walking back over to my desk. As the three treants walked out, Birch told Elm to wait. Elm looked down, aware that if Birch ordered it, Elm's life would be forfeit. "Yes, Lord Birch?" He said with a frown. "Overseer, have your best jewelers forge a golden crown, lined with emeralds forged for the master." "Birch, I—" Elm started to say before he was cut off by Birch. "You know the price of disobedience." Birch said, matter-of-factly. "If I am to be Lord, that would make Sugar Hoof a king. As much as he laughed at the prospect, you know it is true." Elm looked sullen, but knew to obey, "Of course, Lord Birch." He said. "Long live the King." He said, slightly smiling. "Long live King Sugar Hoof." Birch replied with a greater smile.