Nearly a week later, King Kateno of the Emerald Horde was standing in a watch tower overlooking the north western periphery of Fespar. A mile long procession of griffons were walking or flying low to the ground. Most of them carried little more than the clothes on their back and a small bag of personal belongings and the last scraps of food they had left. Only the escorting soldiers carried weapons.
The soldiers themselves marched in the disciplined column formation and gleaming rifles glinting in the light. The troops were small in number, but it was their military bearing that pleased him. They will make excellent drill masters. No doubt many of them will make themselves useful in short order. But them being industrious mountain dwellers is the real prize. The mineral wealth such habitats would grant him only made his smug grin even wider.
Dust on the road brought his attention to the base of the tower where a centauri runner skidded to a halt to speak with the captain of Protectora: a brown diamond dog of unusual intellect for his kind.
The captain saluted the runner away before he charged up the stairs. Upon reaching Kateno, he kneeled before him. “My liege, Warlord Lilja wishes to meet with you.”
“Of course.” Kateno tapped his hooves to break loose any dirt before making for the stairs. “Today is a good day, I think.”
It wasn’t long before Kateno and several of his Protectora rode out to meet the griffons. The throng of newcomers came to a slow stop once they noticed Kateno’ approach while the soldiers came to a crisp halt. Lilja and her husband were at the fore. She wore only a travel garb, as did her husband, but she still looked the part of a highborne commander.
Upon Kateno coming to a stop close by, Lilja knelt down and presented her personal rifle to him. “King Kateno of the Emerald Horde, I Warlord Lilja, offer my house’s fealty as well as my followers.”
Grunting in approval, Kateno took her rifle in hand and inspected it. The weapon was keen and well designed, with a relief in gold depicting a mountain. “A fine instrument, as I am sure you will be as well. Rise, Lilja, and stand as one of my khans.” He returned the weapon to her, and Lilja bowed her head once more before claiming it.
“I am honored, my king. Know that word has already spread of Char’s open challenge for the imperial throne. My kin will be in no position to threaten your conquest now.”
“Whispers of the conflict has already reached me, well done. But we can plan for war tomorrow, tonight, we feast in your honor as the seventh species to stand with the Horde! Come my friend!”
True to his word, Lilja and her followers feasted long into the night and into the wee hours of the following morning. Word of the imminent griffon civil war spread through the city like wildfire and soldiers sang songs of vengeance and bloodlust. Their humiliation years prior would be surely rectified within a month.
It was almost noon three days later when Ketano was at his war room and staring over the map of Union territory. He remembered much of the eastern land well, and he had more than enough kirin and sphinx defectors to have a solid grasp of the borderlands and the fortifications around major cities. A gleeful expression was plastered on his face as he dreamed of the conquest to come.
He already had stockpiles of food and supplies prepared, and summer was already halfway through. We avoided the spring mud season, but we will need to reach beyond the Sloping Mire before the autumn snow starts. It will be close, but I should be able to cut my way into Weaterburg before the weather turns.
“Contrania, I have orders.”
His young daughter jumped from her quiet studies and ran over with pen and paper. She settled in on the eastern end of the map and rolled it up just enough to have room. “Ready, father.”
“Khan Martok is to take his army north along the Gamgies lowlands. Have him fake a second army approaching striking distance of Fort Sands to keep their forces there pinned. Second, Cinia must make sure our supply problems in the region are not repeated. As for Lilja…” Kateno had been considering what to do with his newest subjects ever since they arrived, and he was not entirely pleased. She came with so few actual soldiers. It would be better if she focused on settling her people than the conduct of war.
Hasty, almost frantic pounding on the door stopped him from writing the latest dispatch. Kateno fumed a bit at the interruption as his Procetora poked a head though. “Sire, urgent news from Sea Watch.”
Wrinkling his brow, he rounded the war table, but motioned for Contrania to remain where she was. “Speak then.”
A winded minotaur bull was ushered inside, and was only just now beginning to recover his breath. “Sire, unknown ships were spotted by the Sea Watch. Twelve of them in all. At current speed and heading, they should reach the harbor in thirty hours.”
“Twelve ships?” That was worryingly unusual. Merchants were known to travel in groups at times to protect against pirates, but civilian formations were too sloppy for that many to manage. The largest civilian convey he had ever seen was four ships. That left only one possible alternative. The only question was who. "Is there anything else Sea Watch knows of these ships?”
The minotaur was recovering his breath, and thought to unfurl the parchment he had been given. “Yes sire, each of them bellows steady black smoke. They were too far away to see any flags properly, sire.” Kateno waved at the minotaur for silence. His blood ran cold at what the messenger at said. “Black smoke... were they on fire by chance?” It was a thin hope, but one he had to shoot for.
When the minotaur answered negatively, Contrania was catching on to her father's rapidly darkening mood. She tentatively stepped closer to him, almost daring to lay a comforting hand on his own. "What's wrong?"
Blinking to end his contemplative stupor, Kateno cleared his throat. "Black smoke and no fire can only mean one thing: Lunarians."
The hour was late the next day when the Lunarian squadron was closing in on the city. The edges of the city was visible via binoculars, and a thick cloud of harpy fliers covered the ships anchored just outside the harbor. Admiral Pale Light stood on the bridge of his flagship the Nightingale as he bounced between gazing through his binoculars and reading the charts his own fliers were making of the enemy position and the port city beyond it. His bridge crew were in a tense silence, save for minor updates or commands being passed. Twilight Sparkle opted to avoid the tight and difficult steps and flew up from outside and spoke through the window.
“You wanted to see me, admiral?” Pleasant surprise painted her face.
“Yes, yes, please,” he waved to an empty spot close to him. He watched the seas as she swung around to a door to get inside. “I heard about you acquiring books on Horde military strategy while we were coaling, and that you consume literature like a starved parasprite.”
Blushing enough to avert her eyes a moment, Twilight dragged a hoof in circles on the wood flooring. “I suppose I do.”
“I must confess I have only had time to get halfway through a kirin veteran’s memoirs on such matters, but I am afraid it is only on their ground warfare. Fascinating read, but hardly the relevant subject of the day. I was hoping you possessed some insights into the Horde navy and shore defenses.”
“I do. What would you like to know?”
Pale Light turned away and used a pair of binoculars to survey the multitude of silhouettes floating between him and his prize. “Well, for one, I don’t see a single sail in the fleet ahead of us, and I’m worried we should have brought a second squadron. Sour Apple, be a dear won’t you and fetch some glasses for the good Lady here.”
When the yeoman returned with said item, Twilight accepted it graciously and joined the admiral in viewing the opposing fleet. The opposition outnumbered them three to one. While it was too far away to get a good look at the hulls, it was painfully obvious not one of them held a sailing mast. “Yes, I heard about this. The hippogriffs noted Horde vessels were fast, up to fifteen knots in many of their ships of the line. Interestingly enough, the centauri are newcomers to sailing. They conquered the peoples of Drakenfell and some other one I can’t pronounce. Now both nations crew and build the horde navy.”
Leveling mild exasperation her way, the admiral kept it to a minimum. “As fascinating as history is, presently I would like to know more about the ships themselves.”
“Oh, yes of course, pardon me.” Twilight tried to clear her thoughts of embarrassment. “While fast, Horde ships are still only armored with timber. Their cannons are weak even by Union standards, so we should out range them with ease. The only danger they pose is an airborne boarding action. It is said harpy sailors are fast, perhaps more so than the average pegasus, but not as sturdy. As for the lack of sails, they use a similar method that the Equestrian navy does by magically turning the screws. Centauri are not innately skilled in magic as say, a unicorn is, but they can train themselves to be quite dangerous magi.”
Satisfied, Pale Light lowered his binoculars. “I see. Thank you. You mentioned harpies as their fliers? Can't say I am familiar with those.”
“They're bipedal bird things, ghastly to look at half the time, but the Horde also possess the occasional drake soldier.”
“Dragons too, eh?”
Twilight wiggled a wing finger. “Not quite the same. Drakes apparently rarely grow taller than Luna by the horn, and live much shorter lives, about average for a pony actually.”
“Either way, let us not get caught with our britches down.” He looked to his bridge officers. “Signal the squadron to prepare for airborne assault.”
Bells rang and shouting erupted as the crew went about to obey, Twilight was growing increasingly worried. She had never seen a naval engagement, only heard stories of the Imperial Navy dominating the high seas. “Do you need me to go below?”
He regarded her closely, seeing if he could detect fear in her. He found little, but it was there. “Only if you feel it necessary. I would prefer you remained though, for your insight.”
She couldn’t very well leave after hearing that. She returned her gaze to the Horde fleet. They had arrayed themselves in a concave line and were ready to meet them. “So what are we going to do? We are not at war after all.”
Pale Light rubbed his chin, mulling over it all. “Helmsman, turn us to starboard and tell the engine room to drop to one eighth. Yeoman, signal the squadron to move into defensive formation. And raise the extra large colors in the off chance they don’t know who we are.”
Kateno had perched himself on the forecastle of the biggest ship in his navy. When the Lunarians started turning, a cheer quickly grew from the sailors below. Jeering and mocking calls of cowardice sprang up like flowers after the rain. And while Kateno would have liked to ride the same enthusiasm, he had to stand above it. This is dangerous, he mused as he looked out over his sailors. Glorious war loomed on the horizon and to the average sailor, it looked as if yet another nation was cowing before them.
A chill ran down Kateno's spine. These were not the sailors of the Union his father had left broken and battered, but the ponies themselves. The very ones that the griffons fear. “Why are they here?” he queried impotently yet again. It surely couldn’t be because of Lilja’s action. He had been assured it couldn’t be traced back to him. They might be acting on no evidence. Would they do that? The answer eluded him, and that was troubling.
“My king,” his zebra admirali stated with poorly concealed worry. “I have never seen ships that gleam in such light. Are they here to fight?”
“A good question.” Kateno’s smoldering ire turned to Lilja. The griffon and her people still rested from their long exodus in the city behind him. A part of him wanted to blame her, but the king in him demanded that he accept responsibility. it is still possible they are here for something unrelated, not that I can think of any other reason to bring so many warships out this far, but here's hoping.
As difficult as it was, he returned his eye to the lenses. Through his spyglass, he saw hundreds of fliers take to the skies. Once they got above the ships, they dropped explosives into the water, creating large geysers of water. Others raced over and circled the still columns of water and pulled them skyward to create clouds. Kateno squinted, thinking his eyes deceived him as a third group was carting cannon up into the new clouds. “They're placing antiboarding defense that far out?” Do they outrange us that far?!
“Sire?”
Kateno looked back at the admirali, who had a collection of officers and a few crewmen within earshot. His observation caused excitement and disbelief washed over them. Honorable victory or heroic defeat, so long as glory was earned, each of them were eager to fight.
While the same thoughts ran in his blood, Kateno wanted to spend their blood in conquest. Yet he did not want to share his father's fate. He collapsed his spyglass with a click and pocketed it. “Inform the fleet to remain here and run up the white flag. We should parley before anyone does anything definitive.”
The admirali turned about. “You heard the king, get to it lads!” The crew burst into action and the zebra waited long enough for all of them to be busy before turning back to his king. “Sire, I advise you to take a shuttle back to port. It would be shameful if you treated with anyone but Luna herself.”
“It is a poor king that shies away from meeting a potential enemy eye to eye.” He clapped the zebra on the back with a forced jovial laugh. “Come now, Zanzar, the only way to live forever is the history books.”
Pale Light pursed his lips as he contemplated on what to do about the single warship sailing towards him flying the white flag. “Interesting. My Lady, does the Horde have a history of violating the rules of parley?”
“The Union has a lot to say about the Horde, a lack of honor among them. But I would hardly count Novos and Summer Flame as being impartial.” Twilight nervously ruffled her wings, causing light ‘clinking’ with her armor. “But I doubt a lone ship could pose a boarding threat.”
Pale Light eyed her, internally debating if she insinuated an intent to dishonor himself. Ultimately he left it be. “You’re right of course. Helm, pull us out and alongside the Horde vessel coming our way.
“As for you, my Lady, I suggest you fetch your sister. Luna’s voice will be needed soon enough.”
It required some delicate maneuvering on both ships’ parts, as such vessels could hardly stop on a dime. But the deed was handled well enough for the two ships to drop anchor close enough for the crews to shout at each other.
As his sailors went about arranging things, Kateno was enraptured by the warship before him. A single great mast stretched out bearing the Lunarian colors. Instead of the fore and aft being elevated, there was a two story superstructure dominating the center. Two massive cannons poked out both fore and aft, while inset smaller guns were mounted along the flanks. Next, the ship sat low in the water, which would force him to jump or climb down to stand on it. Lastly though, and most concerning of all, was how closed the ship looked.
All the windows were glassed and far too small for a harpy boarder to climb through, and metal hatches were fitted on every door he could see. It made a boarding action seem like a useless gesture. That left him to a gun duel. He did not need the ringing echo of hooves on the metal deck, nor his eyes constantly being dragged to the gun turrets to know that victory was a mad fantasy of the highest order. No matter where he looked, Kateno found no purchase for victory.
Throwing his troubles aside, Kateno watched as sailors on both sides threw rope to tie the ships together, and allow a gangplank to be lowered into place. Taking the lead, Kateno marched over and was the first to step aboard, followed by his admirali.
Waiting for him were two mares and a stallion he quickly identified as an officer, and given by the decoration, he assumed the stoic stallion was an admiral. Yet as he got closer, he could see the highborne airs around the oddly winged unicorn. Pony sailors were perched on the mast, along the superstructure, and behind every porthole with a view. None of them bore obvious weapons, but Kateno was not going to be cowed no matter the case.
“I thank you for welcoming me aboard. Know that I am High King Kateno of the Emerald Horde. This is my Admirali Zanar. Leviathan of the high seas.” Kateno regaled with shared pride.
After the zebra bowed, the stallion stepped forward. If Kateno was going to stand on longer titles he’d oblige. “Greetings, High King. I am Fleet Admiral Pale Light of Her Imperial Majesty’s navy.” He gestured to the sisters. “Beside me is Lady Pinkie Pie, Voice of the Empress, and her sister Imperial Engineer Twilight Sparkle and head of House Sparkle.”
Voice of the Empress? Then dignity can be maintained. Kateno focused on the earth mare who was two heads shorter than him. Resplendent in his armor, Kateno only now noticed the full plate regalia felt much heavier than normal, but he ignored it to maintain his poise. “Voice of the Empress, I must admit your arrival caused quite a stir. To what do we owe the pleasure of your visit?”
Seeing how Pale Light had passed the buck to her, Pinkie tried to look overly important and unintimidated by Kateno’s size. “We came here with two issues for which we felt a simple messenger would be insufficient. First, Lunaria has signed a treaty with the Union guaranteeing their independence for the next five years.”
The hackles on Kateno’s spine rose sharply, and his face soured immensely. His ire focused on Lilja, but he held back before it was cemented. “I see. I - thank you for the warning before anything unfortunate could occur.”
Pinkie arched an unamused eyebrow. “Funny, because something unfortunate has already happened. We know you’re behind the gruesome murder of our missionaries in Griffonstone. We know you gave the order to cause a war to break out between Tranquility and Griffonstone. The Empress is most displeased with your indiscretion.”
His first impulse was to lie and claim ignorance. However, standing here on the battleship near its forward turret, he saw the futility of it. He resisted the urge to suck in a breath. “As would I, were the blood on your - hooves. What form of recompense do you require?”
The ready admission surprised the pink pony enough for her to pull her head back. “Your honesty is a welcome surprise. We were going to demand a pound of flesh, but given the circumstances, we are willing to hear what you might offer instead.”
The suggestion stunned Kateno so much his mouth was left agape for a few seconds before he shook himself. “I - see. Give me a few moments.” Shoring up enough bravado to appear unintimidated, he stepped away and waved his admirali to join him in private. With pony ears as big as they were, Kateno made sure to put some extra distance from them.
As soon as Kateno walked off, Twilight cast a look of disbelief at Pale Light before reaching her sister and gently tugging her ear in close. “Pinkie, what was that?” Paranoia made her scan the gathered sailors, and they were a mix of confusion and mounting irritation at giving the Horde the option to make terms.
“I - I panicked,” Pinkie whispered hastily while tugging her ear free. “I thought, hey honestly, that’s our thing right? He should get rewarded for it.”
Twilight leveled a stern glower at her. “Other beings are capable of honesty, Pinkie. Besides, even without Harmony, only a fool would try to lie to us now.”
“For somepony as well traveled as you are, my lady,” Pale Light commented dryly, “You display far more faith in other beings than I thought possible.”
Pinkie gently poked her sister in the chest to get some space. “It’s not like I gave anything up. We can always say no if he tries to make it too soft for him. Who knows, maybe he could surprise us.”
“Surprise us she says,” Twilight grumbled while rubbing her eyes out of exasperation. “Pinkie, you know I love you, but you baffle me sometimes.”
A mischievous grin found its way on Pinkie’s muzzle. “Only sometimes? Then I need to work harder.”
“No! That is not what I meant, and you know it.” Twilight once again scanned the gathered sailors and had to hold back a tirade. By Pinkie’s satisfied look, said tirade apparently wouldn’t do her much good anyway.
Twilight was still debating on what to say when Kateno and his admirali returned. The Horde King was stone faced, as if he remained stiff to keep his nerve. “Honorable Speaker of the Empress, I believe I can satisfy your anger, and prevent a regrettable conflict. How about my fleet fights against your own tomorrow.”
Less than polite laughter rang out amongst the sailors, which didn’t truly help Pinkie’s attempt at diplomatic confusion. “I… am not a military mare, but even I know that will not end well for you.”
“On the contrary, it will end precisely as I need it to.” Kateno paused for a moment to steady himself. “My people… seek revenge on our defeat against the Union. To turn our armies away now would see my head on a pike. But this!” He opened his arms to encompass the closest turret of the battleship. “This is a force for which we have no answer. But my people do not know this, and my word alone would be seen as cowardice. So a war is needed. Just a little one,” he added while pinching his fingers. “Enough to know you ponies are not the enemies we need without a renewed call for blood. It will give me enough support to turn my armies to other less… prickly prospects.”
“Sounds interesting, a moment please.” Pinkie pulled Twilight around and headed to Pale Light, bringing them out of earshot of Kateno. The admiral looked unbothered by it all, and kept an even keel when he spoke first.
“A pragmatic way to spend lives. Cold, but dare I say it, a smart move.”
“So you approve?” Pinkie asked, almost hesitant. Twilight was a bit skeptical, and was waiting for him to drop the mask and reprimand her.
Even if she didn’t say a word, Pale Light could sense Twilight’s apprehension. “There is little he can glean of us by doing this, save for cementing our dominance in the region. I’d wager my commission this will calm our people down long enough to focus their energies on taming our new lands.”
It bothered her, but Twilight sighed in agreement. “The people will certainly approve of wrecking a small fleet over some honeyed words and a hollow promise.”
“Exactly,” Pale Light replied with the knowledge he was right. “What do we care if this king wants to throw away centauri lives or whatever other miscreants sail under his banner?”
As much as she didn’t care to admit it, Pinkie could see that harsh calculus would work in their favor. This feels like it goes against Harmony, but I can read the room. “Perhaps it is for the best then.”
The next day, close to the appointed time, Kateno stood on a hastily cobbled together platform elevating him above the docks. Gathered all around him were his citizens and soldiers alike. He had commanded as many citizens to be present as could fit.
At the moment, he bided his time, acting like he was conversing with three of his advisors with Lilja close by. While his delay caused some stir, the real cause for commotion was that the local naval vessels were anchored just off the docks, as if they were prepared to leave at a moment’s notice.
For her part, Lilja was in a panic. Though she hid it well, she was not blind to who exactly was waiting out at sea. All griffons, even one as removed from the sea as her people were, knew the Lunarians ruled the waves. It was half the reason they largely abandoned the coasts. Yet strangely, Kateno had yet to mention it, save to demand her presence.
Off in the distance, towards land, the tolling of the hour came. Once the bells silenced, Kateno passed a signal to his honor guard, who sounded horns for the crowd’s attention.
Minotaur soldiers scattered to the far ends of the crowd carried magical relays so the whole crowd could hear Kateno. “Civilians, citizens, and soldiers all, heed your king. All of you are eager for the invasion to come, and I most of all.” A thunderous rose of approval sprang up from the crowd, an event Kateno let die out on its own. He still had time before the engagement began. “It is with great satisfaction that we welcomed our new people, the griffons who through guile and wit remove their brethren from the war to come.”
Lilja steadied herself as renewed cheering erupted around her. This is why he wanted me here. To take the fall in place of himself. It was a bitter realization, but one she could not blame him for. Even so, she wasn’t going to go quietly. I did not betray the empire and fly across that damned Union just to be torn apart by an unwashed mob. So she waited for the enviable denouncement to come her way, a litany of rebukes already on the tip of her tongue.
Unaware of his newest khan’s musings, Kateno continued on. “However, wallowing in their terror, the Union threw themselves at the hooves of Lunaria begging for the ponies’ protection.” Kateno leaned heavily into derision over the fact, earning a multitude jeers and laughter all over the mile long stretch of onlookers. Though it was harder to catch, she could see some citizens were less than thrilled.
Now however, he took a more serious tone. “Everyone,” he called out to silence the crowd. “The ponies have no love for the Union, but when the Union leaders promise mountains of gold and their first born, I think you would struggle to find someone unwilling to carry that rifle. So they had come this day to test us. To see if opposing the Emerald Horde is worth that mountain of gold. If our brave and undefeated sailors crush the ponies this day, Lunaria will know to stand aside!”
The crowd’s cheering redoubled into a fevered pitch, and while Kateno acted like he was basking in it, his inner thoughts were deeply troubled. Zanar, may the gates of Howenhime open for you.
The hour was close now, and the warships slipped their moorings and were in the midst of stoking the magic propellers to life. Unease gripped Kateno’s heart as thirty six good ships and their sailors went to their doom. Zanar knows… but I don’t know how much he’s told his men. I left it to him to decide.
He had to keep up appearances though. This was supposed to be easy, a formality at best. A few people in the crowd had seen Lunarian steamships as anything more than showboaty. Fewer still saw the cannon those pony merchants kept carefully hidden when not dealing with pirates. Except for those very pirates, not one soul in the crowd had ever seen a Lunarian warship through anything but a spyglass.
Those scant few privateers laying low in the crowd knew them all too well. No one believed their tall tales of untouchable metal leviathans. Each of them found nooks and hidden crannies to watch that willful ignorance be swept away. They had felt those guns before, and to watch the other navy that hounded them from coast to coast receive a bloody nose would be a joy to behold.
Having broken from his troubled musings, Kateno cast his gaze upon Lilja. The jane was tense, no, wholly on edge was more accurate to his eye. “Remember this day, Lilja, this is a lesson we can ill afford to forget.”
That didn’t sound like an impending execution to her. So she took a moment to stop and truly listen. “Had I known they would come, I would have done differently, my king. My people-”
Several explosions rocked the harbor. The force of it instantly made Kateno flashback to the battlefields of his youth and that he was the target of artillery again. The whole center of his fleet, having not even cleared the harbor buoys, were aflame. The flagship alone had its bow blown off and there was the makings of a massive fire amidship. Taking his spyglass, Kateno saw flames licking from what gaping holes he could see.
The flames raged so strongly on the flagship that Kateno could barely make out the crew trying to fight the fires through the growing black smoke. A second shot struck home, this time plunging straight through the top deck. It exploded amongst the powder magazine and completely blew the ship apart in a volcano of fire and splinters that showered the waters all the way up to the pier.
“I know the time has come and gone, but was it truly necessary to open fire before they even properly got underway?”
“This is hardly the time for half measures, my Lady. He wanted a spectacle, he’s going to get it.”
As more shots rained in, some went wide, hitting the water, yet it all had the desired effect. The more flighty members of the crowd were already fleeing the area, yet some of the braver ones were already taking to the water to try and rescue survivors. Every shell burst, every sailor diving for safety, every act of desperation, Kateno watched it all to honor Zanar.
It was dusk by the time the guns fell silent. Like a satisfied dragon, the untouched Lunarian ships departed without a word. Their speech had been written by the wreckage and flotsam that stretched barely two miles from the pier to the sea. The carnage was given deep shadows by the dying sunlight and the multitude of flares, both mundane and magical alike. The harbor was alive with small boats trying to fish out what few survivors remained. The battle had been over for hours now, and everyone from the lowest beggar to Kateno himself were only still moving to keep from thinking about the battle. Yet the king did not have the luxury of seclusion.
It was late into the night that a pen scrawled on parchment as Kateno wrote the latest set of dispatches. He had established himself inside the customs house to remain close should his word be needed any further. He was surrounded by officials and soldiers alike as he coordinated the continuing relief effort.
With the late hour, matters were going to worsen. The wreckage of ships and bodies alike were going to clog the harbor for days, if not weeks as the tide turned and cast the more distant wrecked ships back onto land. It was all an enormous mess, and Kateno had silently resigned himself to personally lead the effort.
At present, a khan was talking with him over what to do about Lunaria. Standing or leaning in a rough half-circle in front of his desk were two other khans and three ministers. With a curt announcement from the guards outside, Lilja entered Kateno’s office. He waved the zebra for silence as she caught his eye. “Ah, Lilja, good, you’re here. Come, come.”
The jane was trying to suppress the fact that she was out of breath, as she had been neck deep in the relief work. Even with her efforts being futile, pride made her try anyway. “You called for me, sire?”
“I did.” Kateno cast a glance at the two other khans and ministers in the room, and motioned them to stay, but looked to the guard still poking his head in. “Make sure no one disturbs us.”
“Aye, sire.” Snapping a crisp salute, the door closed tightly behind Lilja.
Kateno heaved a heavy breath and stood up to address everyone. “Today has been a black day. Something that will never - should never be forgotten.”
“Aye!” cried the black drake in light leather flier’s armor. “It may have been a duel between fleets, but there was no honor this day, save for survival.”
“We can’t let this go,” said a zebra while slamming the wall with a hoof. “First the Union and its allies, and now the ponies?! We’ll be a laughingstock if we let this go without an answer!”
Scowling, Kateno looked to his newest khan. Lilja looked even more on edge than she had before the battle. He could guess as to why. “Lilja,” he said, causing her to jump a bit. “When you heard the ponies came here in force, did you know this would happen?”
Surrounded by all the other eyes in the room, all while the door was closed and undoubtedly barred, Lilja had no option but to hold her head high and speak truth to power. “I believed you would have either handed me over to them, or have me punished for this mistake.”
“Mistake?” Kateno parroted with faux surprise. “This was not a mistake, it was an error. I for one prefer to keep them distinct.” He looked at the drake. “Galrath, when you were ambushed at the Bleeding Widows, did my father punish you for losing half your army?”
Flashing crimson down his scales, the drake growled low. “Yes, sire.” That day still felt bitter, even years after. Knowing he would have to elaborate, Galrath pressed on, partially thankful Lilja would learn of it through his own lips. “Your father wanted my head for the dishonor of it all. You stopped him.”
“And I don’t regret it.” Kateno stated with firm conviction. “Before and after the ambush you have served with distinction and valor, old friend. Your honors are well earned.” Having placated the drake, Kateno returned his attention to Lilja. “I know you had no intention for this to happen, so there is no reason to censor you over it, save to ensure you remember your error. Am I clear?”
Surprised not just that she would not be punished, but that the other khans did not seem to regard her as darkly as she feared. “C-crystal clear, sire.” Her respect for him grew immensely.
“Good.” Kateno poured himself some wine, but stopped short of taking a swig just yet. “Because on all accounts, this massacre should never have happened. Error or not.” Grumbling, he downed half the glass in one go as those around him shared concerned looks. “As you must have heard, Zanar and I went on that pony flagship. We saw the power of those iron islands, and they mentioned that they had signed a guarantee of independence for the Union, every fiber of my being screamed at me that the war was already lost. And yet I could do nothing to stop it.” The admission drew pained looks from everyone save Galrath who remained stony. “Honor demanded something to be done. So I gave the order. I commanded Zanzar to sail to his death, and that of every sailor under him. Had I called off the invasion without a grand show of Lunarian power, my honor would be forfeit, along with my head.”
He looked up and cast a scathing glare at his subordinates, trying to see if anyone harbored the will to speak. “Not one of you can deny it.”
Neither of the khans looked comfortable enough to give an answer. Even the imposing Galrath could not bring himself to speak. The silence hanging in the air was oppressive, enough so that the zebra khan felt obligated to change the subject. “What are we to do, my king?”
Kateno took another drag from his wine, leaving a trail of red to run down his chin. He held the glass in front of himself as he wiped it away on his sleeve. “My original plan had been to turn the armies south. With griffons at our side now, we have a chance to cross the Hermite Cliffs, but now…” He put the glass down and stood up while lording over the desk to look each khan in the eye. “The Horde is damaged, and it was not done by pony hooves. No, they only exposed the wound.”
“Damaged how?” one of the ministers inquired. “That we are clearly lacking in cannon and iron?”
Kateno grumbled and impotently banged his glass down onto the desk, making the skittish minister jump. “No, it goes deeper. Our pride cost us Zanar and his fleet. It would have cost us the next war were my father still alive. The Emerald blade has chipped and we didn't even know it. Willful pride and those still drunk off our past victories is not a blanket we can wrap ourselves in.”
Kateno paused to think. He reclaimed his shot glass and blankly stared at his reflection. “We must slow to reflect and reforge ourselves anew. As to how or in what direction, I…” He scoffed at himself, feeling like his point was being lost. And with it, the loyalty of his inner circle. So he thought up a quick idea to buy time. “Lilja, you are still new here, and your ideas are novel. Tell us, how do the griffons view and make war? We have a general understanding of your methods, but not from a griffon’s eye.”
The room fell to silence as all eyes turned to her. Yet now it was her turn to chuckle derisively. “My king, your - acclaim is appreciated, but I fear the empire is not who you should turn to. No, instead you should know about how the ponies wage war.”
“How, pray tell, can we do that?” Galrath fussed over a seeming dead end. “The Lunarians are a secretive bunch. Any other leader would have sent a delegation to demand recompense for what was done to them. Not a damned flotilla.”
“Clearly none of you remember how Maladora reacted to their merchant caravan being butchered,” remarked a minister with grim humor. “Granted it wasn’t us, but that didn’t stop them.”
The zebra khan growled, trying to banish the poor joke. “Diamond dogs are brainless barbarians, I was more surprised they didn’t raid their own caravan by mistake.”
A thus far silent minister smoldered anger at how all of this talk amounted to surrender. “The ponies are not that complicated. They know war. Today was just a tease. A taste. But they were fools to stop there. With respect, we should spend our time crafting our own ironclads, not lamenting the limits to our station.”
Kateno stomped a hoof, rattling the table, and waved at them. “Silence, all of you!” He focused keenly on the last minister until the centauri cowed his gaze away from him. Slowly satisfied he remained unchallenged, Kateno zeroed in on Lilja. “Continue.”
Lilja nervously smoothed the feathers on her neck after nodding her compliance. “My knowledge comes third claw, I’m afraid. My holdings were the furthest from Lunaria, and unfiltered knowledge about them is scarce enough as it is. But what I can say is that to the ponies, war is a… a…” She rolled a claw trying to find the right word. “Like a trade, or industry. Yes, those fit. To them, war is trade. A good to be supplied and expended.”
Galrath recoiled at the very idea. “Trade?! What of honor or valor?”
Lilja scowled a bit as she recalled all those letters and details. It helped her house had formed due to the last war with Lunaria, so she had less bad blood to color her words. “They value that as well, if you can sift through the grime and muck my brethren say about them. Acts of valor and the like are rewarded, naturally, but the conduct of war to them is like the machines they hold so dear. Each soldier is a cog. Supply the lubricant, and leaders are the ones tending to it all. If there is a defect, like say a poor plan of action, then they discard it with ease. That is how they amass such power and respect. The Equestrians can check them, but that is only on land.”
“War as a trade… a machine…?” Kateno sat back down and clasped his hands in front of his face. His thoughts dwelling deeply upon the idea.
A khan laughed mockingly about it all. “What soldier can fight under a leader or cause without honor? Not even mercenaries think only of coin.”
Galrath shook his head in exasperated disappointment at his peer. “Clearly they see honor differently.”
Fearing his khans would start spiraling off topic, Kateno made a show of standing up and noisily pushing his chair away. “I need all of you to go back to your homes. Summon your brightest minds and gather them at the old capital, I am moving the throne. Take the lesson Zanar paid for in blood to heart.”
“What do we tell the people?” asked one of the khans. “They will be calling for blood before long.”
Kateno slammed his hands on the desk and leaned over to him with a look of stunned exasperation. “They want blood, they can sieve it out of the harbor! The ponies didn’t have to stop at sinking our ships. Had they so choose, they could have razed the Horde’s entire coast to cinders, and we could never scratch those metal monsters.” He glared heavily at those he suspected would falter or still craved battle. “Eight cities and over a hundred villages gone, and the Emerald Horde would be cleaved in two. This was a slap across the face, and I refuse to make it worse than that.
“These reforms need to happen, and they need time. So bluster, belittle this defeat, do what you must, but do not allow the people to force you into provoking the ponies. If we have to lose face to spare our coasts the flames, so be it. I have spoken.”
That was the end of it. Lilja and the ones like her were in no small amount, please to hear it. Those who were left incensed however were left bitter, but even they could not deny facts. They would all begrudgingly turn their eyes away from the Union.
It was weeks later by the time Twilight Sparkle finally returned home. She was done. The expedition, the talks, the long trip back, all of it dragged on her energy as the carriage pulled into the sparse farmland around Talon Point. With Rainbow Dash lagging behind to address her unit, and Applejack splitting off to visit her family, the carriage had been thankfully quiet.
The trip from castle to manor had only been an hour or so, yet it was long enough for Pinkie to collapse into a nap. Presently, she had claimed the forward bench and was snoozing through the various bumps in the road.
Twilight however was content to watch the skies and clouds above. Word of the new lands ripe for colonizing had put a fire in everyone’s bellies. The cloud districts above were already thinning as fliers were the quickest to leave, many not even bothering to wait for the pioneer programs to establish themselves.
To think all it took from Luna was to say we had breathing room again. I wonder how much farmland around here we will be forced to let go fallow.
The carriage came to a stop with a cobblestone clatter. Fatigued to the point where her wings were going limp, Twilight stepped out to find her husband and three children waiting for her. This time apart had been difficult. Each day felt like a week, but now she could move past all the pomp and ceremony of Tranquility.
A brilliant smile crossed her face at the sight of her family and she was quickly beset by the twins. The two fillies, one pegacorn and the other a thestral, swamped her with squeals of delight.
Decorum demanded Twilight restrain them a bit, but she was too tired for protocol. So she submitted to the youthful assault by dropping to her belly and cradling them in her unarmored wings.
With a surprised, but welcome chuckle, Silver Vein walked over with the youngest on his back, a little thestral colt who was teething on a blanket. “Glad you managed to pull yourself away from the palace. Come on, Spring Roll, Prism, give momma some room to breathe.”
He offered her a hoof, and she struggled to rise even with the help. “It has certainly been tiring.” She leaned down, wobbling a bit, to nuzzle her twins. “How about we all relax in the library with a spot of tea and I can read the Hungry Parasprite?”
The fillies stopped jumping and crowded around their father. “Cookies too?!”
Smirking and casting an eye towards Twilight, Silver spoke with a silly tone. “Well momma is the boss. You should ask her.”
Twilight scowled at him, only for Spring to tug on her mane, forcing Twilight’s head down to stare into the manic eyes of her daughter. “Please momma, cookies cookies!”
Groaning out of fatigue and just down right lack of social energy, Twilight didn’t even put up a fight. “Yes, you can have cookies. But only if Aunty Pinkie Pie helps you make them, not the staff.”
A distant and confused, “huh? What?” came from behind her. Pinkie playfully yelled as the fillies swarmed her.
Silver Vein helped Twilight back up and uselessly swiped at the bit of drool encrusted mane. “They’re adorable aren’t they?”
Still feeling the sway of the ocean beneath her hooves, Twilight took a deeper liking to her peaceable son who was still preoccupied with his blanket. “What they are is a bit much.” Using some untapped reserve of strength, Twilight used her wings to fix her hair right and proper, and took some comfort from all the manic giggling coming from the carriage. “Instead of tea, I need a hot meal and a chance to sleep in my own bed. We can do tea and storytime tomorrow.” He bent down and kissed her son’s forehead before pulling back to repeat the gesture to Silver’s lips.
“I suspected as much.” Silver waved a wing towards the elevator, prompting his wife to join after him. A look further back revealed Pinkie Pie was making a fool of herself playing with the fillies. It was odd to see a noble act in such a way, and yet Twilight had not said a word against it. Well, if she allows it, then who am I to speak up? “Oh, by the by,” Silver announced as he fished around his vest.
Twilight watched him struggle to find the item while keeping the colt on his back. She closed the elevator grate, and activated it right as Silver produced a letter.
“Here it is, the daft thing didn’t want to let go.” He gave it over. “This arrived yesterday.”
It was a hefty envelope, and could easily be holding a decently sized book. She didn’t need to fully read the return address to recognize the hornwriting. “This…” She held it close, fearful the winds might carry the heavy thing away. “This is from my father!” Shielding the envelope from the wind with her body, Twilight pulled it back to fully read the front. Sure enough it carried her home address on the corner, while the mailing address was in her mother’s hoofwriting. “They finally wrote me.”
Her thoughts raced as to what could be written within. With renewed vigor, she went about reattaching her wing-armor. She no longer wanted to wait for the elevator to take her home, but she stopped short to look at her husband. “Silver, I-”
Twilight was struck by emotion, and her voice faltered. Her lip quivered at what her parents could have to say, what reprimands flooded those pages. Apologies perhaps? Anything and everything ran at blinding speed in her mind’s eye.
Outwardly, Twilight was a sputtering mess. She paced in circles around Silver, her armor remaining partially hanging off. She was spiraling into such distress that Silver tugged on her shoulder to stop her. “Twilight, maybe you should read those with Pinkie Pie.” Twilight opened her mouth to argue, but he held a firm hoof up. “It hardly matters what these letters say, it will be difficult, of that I have no doubt. I-” It was his turn to stumble now. He wanted to help her, but he knew Pinkie would be a better fit. He gently held her by the chin and met her damp eyes, already swelling with tears. “She can help you better than I.”
“I can’t,” Twilight pulled away and tightly closed her eyes. “I was their daughter, but Pinkie was their slave.”
“She is your sister all the same.”
Cringing at the duress Pinkie would be put under, Twilight held the thick envelope close to her heart. The last she heard of them was from Shining Armor during the peace talks. The envelope burned in her grasp as she desperately wanted to open it. She tensed her jaw and lowered it a touch. “Perhaps you’re right. Right now she’ll want to cook dinner and play with the girls. Once everything settles down, I’ll ask her.”
Silver knew she needed cheering up and maneuvered himself so the colt was next to her. The boy rolled over to grab at her, cooing to hold his mother.
A wide grin helped distract her, and Twilight leaned over to take him into her wings. The little thestral wiggled and squirmed to hold her cooing the whole time to get her attention. With a stress releasing giggle, she nuzzled the jubilant child. It can wait a few hours.