“Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly and applying the wrong remedies.”
― Groucho Marx
“A nation of sheep will beget a government of wolves.”
― Edward R. Murrow
What just happened indeed was the question.
The situation seen by any of the perspectives in the area was incomplete at best. No one really knew what was going on, or was confused in one manner or another.
Ermo, the bringer of the question, was the one that knew of this more than anyone else. His confusion was only compared to the one of the recently crowned princess Celestia, who was also confused, but at least she knew why she knew nothing.
Sir Jurian, Ermo’s friend and bodyguard, was also confused, but his confusion laid in dead not fifty meters from his position near a tree, which he repeatedly smacked his head with.
The newly trained day guards and General Sparkle was not as confused as them all, they were only questioning the why of Celestia’s anger directed towards them, and not to the creatures that surrounded them.
The Templars were also confused, not that they would ever admit it, they knew only that the monster was defeated and no more. It didn’t stopped them from preparing to pass judgment on the jeweled and golden armored royalty of hell that may have surely summoned the giant demon to distract them from protecting their lord.
The knights, Ermo’s knights, were actually slightly confused. They really didn’t care either way, they saw their lord in the floor possibly hurt and they prepared to attack.
So it was easy to say that the word of the day was, ‘luck’.
Not confusión.
“No really, what just happened?” Asked the recently bilingual lord. Not that he knew about that fact.
The men around him just stared at him warily, he might as well ordered them to commit suicide sort to speak. The ponies near the princess understood what had just transpired as they smiled knowingly.
“What?” Ermo asked bewildered.
“Mi’lord are you alright?” Asked a confused young knight.
“Of course I am? Did something happened to me?” Ermo stated almost insulted at the question.
“The witch demon has done something to corrupt our lord's mind!” Yelled the Templar veteran to everyone around him, making the pressure of the situation ten times worse.
“I did no such thing!” Answered Celestia even though she had no knowledge of what witch meant for them. It could be a jump in translation. But she still found it insulting by the way it used it.
All the ponies around Celestia jumped slightly at her shout. ‘Scaredy ponies.’ she thought.
“Are you alright your highness?” Said General Sparkle,
“The creatures just spoke!” Ermo yelled in surprise by the lavender horse’s question.
Celestia ignored the creature, worried about what implications Sparkles questions could have, “Where is this worry coming from?” Celestia asked.
Celestia just now noticed the complete silence. Looking at the creatures in general she noticed them surprised of her sudden speech; not wanting to cause more trouble than it’s worth she spoke.
The better way to place it was that she tried...
“The demon has spoken!” Yelled one of the Templars pointing directly at her.
‘Demon?’ Celestia thought to herself as the creatures continued to ramble.
“Cursed witch what have you done to our lord!”
“She has surely cursed him!”
“Stolen his voice!”
“Taken his humanity!!”
“Lord Ermo has become its slave!!!”
“Alright, this is getting out of hoof.” Said Celestia mostly to herself about this entire situation was blurting out of control, swords were raised and the situation was about to explode.
And for what made a show like the second before when they charged at her, in which situation she would’ve flown to get away, they were all silenced.
Puzzled with the sudden silence, Celestia searched for answers. Which came in the form of a plane hoof with five digits that the black clothed creature was rising.
“That’s enough, men.” Ermo said with his raised hand, clearly disappointed of his men’s crazy attitude and he is more than sure that their spouting insults of witches and demons at her especially the Templars if they saw her with her horn on his head.
‘I think something about the translation went wrong.’ Celestia thought.
Best if i get someone that will bring more help than harm, now where's Jurian.’ Ermo though as he quickly tried to find his friend.
As if on cue, Jurian stepped into Ermo’s vision.
Jurian had stopped hitting himself by the tree. Thinking that his mind maaay just have over exaggerated the situation. But now that he was in front of the group rubbing his head, being looked at all sides by everything with a pair of eyes...
Jurian really wanted to move back to his tree.
“Jurian my friend, I would like to inform you that the creatures actually are able to speak.” When Ermo spoke he noticed the way Jurian... raised his eyebrows.
Jurian never raised his eyebrows.
“Ermo... did something happened to your voice?” Jurian asked, eyebrows still raised.
“What did you say?” Ermo stated right eye almost twitching, “...alright, this is getting ridiculous” Ermo ended as his frustration to try and speak to someone to get the situation under control became now impossible.
“I may be the cause,” Said Celestia as she attempted to move closer to Ermo but was stopped in her hooved by a spear near her throat.
“Let her be.” Ermo said to his knight that had the spear near the horse like creature, but when the knight only stared at him, his unsettledness only doubled.
Celestia's eyes shone with the only true revelation of information in the last four minutes or so.
“He does not understand you.” Said Celestia almost to herself, she was awarded with a push of several swords and spears near her body. She was now very aware of how many spears were actually near her, near her sides and her flanks. Just as though she was the village hoofcicl- ‘Stop it mind!’
“What do you mean?” Asked Ermo as he moved towards the very self-conscious princess.
Ermo noticed that the princess actually couldn’t speak due to the spears no near her ‘jaw’ and gestured for the soldiers to move away, they hesitated but gave the creature space. “My spell was not so well presente-”
“It said it conjured a spell, it is a witch! We need to-” Shouted one of the younger knights causing a chain reaction that would have gone bad if Ermo had not slapped him on the back of his head and moving his finger to his lips to silence them.
“As I was going to say,” Celestia said bemused, “The spell worked, but not the way I intended it too, I did not thought as hard as I should have and I did not detail my spell for us to speak each others languages as well as ours. To be clearer the spell was meant for us to understand each other, not speak the language, but it sounds like I took the language...”
Ermo remained in silence and she understood that as a sign to continue, “So then to finish the spell correctly I just need to make sure to think of all the possibilities I want it to be before directly placing it, and we should be able to communicate perfectly.” Celestia said proudly, she wanted someone to pat her in the... back... yes, back for her very well thought response with no real errors as she is used to make when giving little speeches.
“LIAR!” Yelled the same young knight as the ruckus that once had died down began to rise once more.
Celestia frowned, she may have given these bipeds to much credit on being civilized.
*SMACK*
“Shut it you fool, wouldn’t you think if she had anything on me she would have she would have done it by now?” Ermo said now aware that his men could not understand him, but not shy in giving out his thoughts.
‘I take myself back. Again. These creatures are hard to place.’ Celestia said actually happy to be wrong.
“Well, at least now that you can at least understand me, let me introduce myself, I am Lord Ermo the Adventurer, I am here as a Merchant and Lord to discuss both diplomatic and trading issues between our two kingdoms.” Ermo said as he bowed his head and torso.
‘Civilized after all I see’ Celestia thought happily a smile winning her face over.
“Then I welcome thee to these lands, Lord Ermo, my name is Celestia of Balicorn, I am the princess and ruler of these lands. “As soon as Celestia finished her introduction, the knights almost instinctively lowered their weapons, as with Ermos hands gesturing them to move away, they lowered them. But didn’t let them go.
‘A princess, a ruler? Now I’ve seen it all.”
The situation once again calmed. Jurian who was near Ermo, spoke.
“So, I am not mad then?”
_____________________________________________________________________
It just stood there.
The demon just stood there.
Asad and his friendly companions were perfectly still, not moving a muscle. Wadi and the other warriors haven’t moved due to the proximity the beast had to the second in command Asad.
After such a long time still Wadi had an easier time looking at the creature, it had two horns on its head and had the head of a bull, but the body of a man, and it wears some kind of armor.
They closed it slowly, weapons at ready.
The demon analyzed Asad with curiosity in its eyes, if one could say that by the way it moved its yellow eyes around his armor. Asad wasn’t terrified, just surprised, which turned into motionlessness. The little creatures ran for their little lives when the evil creature’s eyes felled onto them. All except one that... glared back at it?
And as Wadi finished his train of thought the creature began to move.
Away from them and into the forest.
The warriors were quick to follow the creature but Wadi halted them. “Look for the others we are to follow cautiously, we will not confront it unprepared.”
The warriors took one last glance at the direction the man-bull left to before running towards the ship. Wadi looked at them go, frowning at what he just saw, turning to Asad he noticed him incredibly still.
“Are you alright Asad?”
Asad quickly shook his head at Wadi’s call. And took a glance at the little creature that remained with him through the stare-down. “You are a very brave little guy.”
In a comical manner the little creature shook its head.
“You're not brave then?” Asked Asad obviously shocked as he didn’t notice he was communicating with an animal.
The little critter shook its head.
“You're not a- Ooooohh, sorry miss.” Asad ended, the small creature nodding at him at confirmation, and stepped off of Asad lap the little ball of fur hopped towards the woods where its fur ball friends escaped to.
Wadi walked slowly towards Asad, he was stupefied, puzzled, unsettled and troubled of what he just witnessed. Only when Wadi was next to him is that Asad noticed what just happened.
“Wadi... did you see, what I saw?”
“No, Asad... you were at shock, you did not see an animal respond to you.” Wadi said slowly, more as an reassurance to himself.
“But... how did you know I saw it respond to me if I imagined it?” Asked Asad, his face still staring forward.
“Because I was also at shock...”
They both remained there, frowning, analyzing, trying to understand what had they just witnessed. And they would’ve reached a conclusion if it they wouldn't have been interrupted.
“Emir, we have gathered twenty men, we hav-... sir?”
Wadi shook his head clearing it from any thought he was having in the moment. He turned to the warriors.
Twenty of them, all clothed head to toe with very little iron armor under their robes, they all carried scimitars and shields with a few carrying their bows and arrows. They were meant to fight in a dessert.
They were in a very big disadvantage.
“Ah, yes, men we are to proceed with caution to follow the man-bull that had recently disappeared in between those trees,” Wadi said almost mechanically pointing towards the trees in front of Asad, “the thing is too close to have it wander, we capture it or drive it away enough for it to be safe that it will not be able to attack the ships once they are docked.”
The warriors that haven’t witness the creature moved their head slightly to its mentioned, but obeyed the order anyway.
Wadi helped Asad to stand before they were on the hunt.
The forest was thick, so incredibly so that they couldn’t see anything from their waist down and two steps in front due to the high grass that they didn’t recognize. Deciding to cut it as they moved using their curved swords for better security of what they would see in their way, they moved on.
It could take months to travel even a small distance, and that was only by moving by themselves, trying to search for something in these accursed lands would be a challenge that would take the hardest warriors and smartest tactician to just be able to even find the direction it left to.
They found a campsite in a clearing, fifteen steps into the forest.
How... unsatisfying.
It was something that would only come from tales from the barbarians. Large wooden poles, sharpened at the tip, surrounded the area, protecting the lifted tents made of what had the impression of leather.
More Man-Bulls walking around the camps cladded with armor from its head to its feet.
Horses with armor going around without their rider and some twisted their legs upwards in such a way that they looked to be kicking the air, but it was different in a way so subtle Wadi couldn't tell.
Some kind of giant lizard with wings asleep with what showed every sign of being a humongous sword next to it.
Some kind of mix of lion and eagle sharpening its sword near a campfire with others of its kind.
Zebras holding weapons in their muzzles were doing what appeared to be training of some kind still kind of hard to see from this distance.
And what got the men to stare more surprised were.... dogs. Yes, dogs holding onto spears, from holes in the ground. These were what the men guess as sentries. If they were not in a point of shock and awe at the moment of course.
Wadi conveyed untroubleness, thinking only for his men, but inside? He is freaking out like a true man of his era. The only thing keeping him from freaking out was his sense of duty, discipline and the fact that none of them paid any attention to their existence.
But Asad had other plans.
“Oh by the grace of Allah you're the ugliest things I’ve ever seen, and I’ve seen old crones in my youth being more than just frien--”
“Shut up Asad! I don't think you want to make the situation any worse!” Wadi whispered harshly looking back and forth from Wadi to the collection of monstrosities.
“But-- but look at--”
“But nothing! Now stop your childish behavior and be a man!”
The Dog-like creatures just stood there more baffled on what were this clothed creatures than what were they saying, and they didn’t understand either.
The dog like creatures ruffed at each other, they just ruffed repeatedly, making Asad and the men prepare their swords, Wadi didn’t move, satisfied with remaining in his position starring spears at Asad. After a while of ruffing the men concluded that they must have been communicating between themselves. But then they stopped.
One of the dog-men turned around, cupping the side of his muzzle with one of its underdeveloped hands and barked to the camp in general. The barking was as any dog would do, but not exactly, each was of a different tone and power.
After a couple of minutes, some ‘warriors’ as well as the giant lizard-creature came up to the men. As it came closer a thought passed through the mind of the Muslims.
It was a Daglinaer, a large lizard creature like from the tales of Saint George.
Saint George for those who don't know him was a Christian saint who killed a dragon and was known and respected by both Muslims and Christians alike.
They were so dead.
“Uhhh, Wadi? I would like to run now.” Asad hissed in a completely terrified tone, the dragon stared at Asad carefully. The warriors and archers had their weapons about to be unshelled, they were simply waiting for the leader to first strike.
Wadi was a night guard, a very clever night guard, he knew when to act and when to turn away. But today he took off more that he could chew. But he was a warrior in the end, trained to defend the realm from evil of all kind, even if after years of being in a relatively fight free time, he was still trained to fight.
Wadi looked around him and can see his men slowly backing away due to the size and intimidation of such a beast; his mind reeled on what to do; his brain looking for solutions, it didn’t matter where or what. It was then his mind threw a fit, something cracked inside.
Wadi was only aware of a small twitch in his body, in such a way that something was about to leave him free to wander to use his full strength with no limit. He didn’t like it. But it wouldn’t be necessary.
“JRKKP?GWIIP?Hello?YDOOP?NSMMO?” The thing gargled noices, trying to communicate, and if it did, it was asking many questions. They thought it to be questions as they recognized one of them.
“Uhh, Emir? That thing just spoke to us? Or am I hearing things?” Asked a Muslim soldier right behind Wadi.
“Uhhh... Hello?” Asad replied, it took Wadi all of his discipline not to simply use his weapon against his friend, or himself.
The lizard creature just nodded its head and spoke once more.
“Kyong. NU BSNR OD Kyong.”
Wadi’s recently crammed mind was about to retire for the day, if it wasn’t because of his men which he was responsible keeping him from just giving up, there would be worse consciousness. Any sudden movement would easily cause him his death.
“Wadi, as the last time, I would like to run. But this time I would like to find a very nice place to sleep so that i may never open my eyes again.” Asad said as Wadi raised an eyebrow, leave it to Asad to speak formally when they’re about to die. And on Asad’s terrified state he added a couple of chuckles of terror that sended cold ripples through the spines of his men.
Asad’s creepy chuckle only worsen Wadi’s mental state, this was not good.
Looking around, Wadi could conclude that everyone was in agreement with Asad, the dragon was now staring at them intently. It only increased their terror.
The Dragon didn't break eye contact when it made a screeching sound.
Then a creature came out of bush that lead to the camp but it was different than what the Muslims saw. It was black as night and it looks like a mix of a rhinoceros and horse and its horn on its head had a red horn.
“CRRYSSSTAAALLS.” The thing screeched and it was getting real close to Wadi.
Wadi tried to move back, but as soon as he thought of it the dragon moved forward and as soon Wadi stopped the dragon stop. It didn't take a genius to figure out what exactly that meant.
“CCRRYYSSTTAALLSS!”
The creature placed its horn to Wadi’s head and Wadi closed his eyes bracing for pain.
After a minute of complete silence Asad was thinking ‘well it was nice knowing you Wadi. Now how to escape with my life?’
But as soon as Asad finishes his train of thought Wadi gasped for air as he fell down complaining of pain within his head. And then the black creature sent some kind of red wave in the air blasting everyone, including the creatures in the camp.
“CHRRYY-*cough**cough*, I am terribly sorry about all of this but it was the only way for us to communicate better without all this terror and confusion. Now for introductions I am known to these lands as Prince Sombra.” Said in a very noble accent.
“...Uh Emir....d-d-did it just speak our language like that”
“Why of course I can speak your language like this it was a translator spell that allows us to communicate without a language barrier. Why you act like you never saw magic at all?” Replied Sombra ignorant to their complete confusion
“What's magic?” Asked Asad, their stupefied faces were a clear sign that something already broke and they were just in for the ride.
_________________________________________________________
The rest of the trip can pretty much be summed up as Celestia fixing the translating spell and also inviting the group to the Capital for the continuation of ‘diplomatic and trading talks’ with Lord Ermo.
And of course the capital.
That damn capital.
The city was in a mountain. Not the kind any of the warriors were used to, but a city in a peak mountain. At its side. It was a beauty to see indeed. If it didn’t signify many stories of evil and demons in all its glory.
When they approached the mountain they had the first view of the ponies citizens.
About hundreds or thousands were at the shadow of the mountain, like a small village in growth. Homes made of wood and a lot of movement was notice. But no details to be seen.
“Lord Ermo! We are going to scale the mountain by the road in its side, if you wish your soldiers could remain here at the bottom of the mountain near the village!” The horse princess yelled, only the lord understanding her words. The other soldiers turned to him as he deeply thought in what to say to the men. Even he was not so sure if they could be trusted.
As soon as Ermo mind had the answer he smiled, turned around to his men and spoke.
“Alright men the horse princess is taken back by our show of force, and she want to make sure her people at her capital not to be taken aback as well. So as a show of ‘good faith’ I shall take our best warriors within the capital and the rest of you will make camp at their village at the base of the mountain.” During the beginning of the speech the men laugh and at the end Ermo’s selected trustworthy knights who roared in pride.
The uplifted army smirked and rejoiced in the words spoken and with little need to ask the men got coordinated to a spot near the village. They were not going to give them any chances.
As the Army separates one hundred and fifty of Ermo’s best warriors left with him to the capital, while the rest marched to the ‘little too big’ village.
As Ermo scaled the mountain alongside the road towards the city, he remembered a question that had him filched the moment he woke. A question for his best knight.
“So Jurian, what was that about you beating your head against the tree?” Whispered Ermo Jurian gritted his teeth not in the best of moods for the day.
“I thought I was going mad after we killed the giant monster, I mean after only one volley of arrows from our crossbows, it was dead.” Jurian replied honestly frustrated from the thoughts that had passed through his mind.
“Really? Only one volley? Are you sure you didn't imagine it? It sounds preposterous by a monster that size.” Ermo joked, not believing one bit of Jurian’s story.
“I am telling the truth my friend, why do you think I was banging my head?” Said Jurian incredibly frustrated.
“You’re strange like that.”
After a couple of hours of marching the group has finally arrived at the gates of the creature’s capital, and they looked in awe at their level craftsmanship.
“Magic can do great things.” Celestia said simply responding at the faces of the men.
“Makes sense...” Quickly replied Ermo, not sure what to think about that answer. With Celestia now in front of him, he moved slightly back and whispered to the Templar behind him to spread the word of not harming any of the creatures, or else.
“Or else what?” Fiercely replied the Templar, he was waiting to challenge the lord long ago, this was his chance.
“Or else, Frederick, you won't get your share of gold in the end.” Ermo reminding the Templar.
“-Fine...” Frederick growled then finally answered.
Ermo thought, as he entered, he would see a beautiful city full of happy citizens of the kingdom, at least that’s what it looked like. Well-fed and well cared for would be the motto, like his kingdom. Remembering the people of his capital, Ermo was reminded to meet some new traders. This was all to make some money in the end.
What Ermo got was the exact opposite of what he envisioned.
As soon as the gates opened, the group saw the people... the filthy peop- creatures. They were by the roads, on top of the homes even some in the sky. They wallow onto their own filth due to such numbers of them. There were creatures of many types, some were the like things they already meet, but some were new... like Dog-men and Man-Bulls and man-like reptiles standing on two legs. But what caught the man's eyes the most were the Griffons within the crowds.
Paranoia moved in the minds of those that were looking for reasons to distrust the ‘magic’ horses. Maybe they were man hunting creatures that molded man into creatures of their choice! All this shows their magic has more than ‘good’ uses...
To the Templar's increasing disgust, from the moment the things turned to them many began to ask for anything, like pagans. The knights and Templar's made a formation to protect the lord from any harm. Even if many began to hesitate.
After some time heading inside the city, Ermo saw for the first time one of the creatures ‘child’s’, a very little, filthy, hurt, and very skinny horse. It was apparently the only child he could see within the mass of hungry creatures. The horse has nothing special on him and was of a green coat and a brown mane. Like the colors of a tree. Ermo couldn't think of anything else but to give the kid something, anything.
But quickly pushed the thought away, thinking that if he gave the kid food the hunger masses will pester him even more and might even kill the child when he leaves it! But he couldn't abandon a child like that, so he thought of something.
The lord made a promise.
Even if it was in his mind, it was still a promise.
“Jurian, see that young horse child there?” Ermo pointed casually to the young horse child in bright green coat and brown mane.
“Aye Milord.” Replied Jurian having the ‘child’ in sight. He was eager to sneak through a city crowded with people and a task would be his ticket to it. He loved a challenge.
“I want you to follow that child and give him something for his to feed, I would hate it for a child to live through this rather obvious famine. Also if need be give also to the family, but be very discreet. At Midday on the morrow, meet me in the horse princess’ palace to continue our mission.” Whispered Ermo trying his best to keep this mission quite from everyone.
Jurian wasn’t unused to the strange springs of generosity that occurred to the Lord now and then. Better yet, he had it more as a consequence thing. But that was with children, children of man. Or his lord was feeling very bad for not have done it in a while or is planning something deeper.
But the latter would mean that the lord had this visit planned, so it would be the former.
“Aye Milord” Jurian said with a grin ready to test his talent to its potential, he never did it within such an overcrowded and hungry city.
After Ermo turned back to check on the rear guard and how they are faring the hungry horde of creatures he saw no trace of Jurian. The greedy man kept forgetting Jurian’s talent of stealth, surely it was due to his choice of weaponry, it was odd for one trained in the art of stealth. But he couldn't think too much on the subject. There was gold to be made.
After many grueling miles to the incredibly white palace from the hungry horde of creatures, the group finally made it to the gates of the palace and the palace guards were quick to halt the horde of people as Ermo's group got entrance due to Celestia's orders.
If the city was like a beautiful lady, the castle was her most beautiful aspect.
The beautiful white marble reflected the suns glare and looks completely spotless, the architecture is a mixture of Greek and gothic with many arcs and towers. The doors shinned as gold would, and every man became aware that it could be opened using the horses’ magic if the guards demonstration was of any indication .
The elite knights entered the castle gates and headed to the castle itself. They separated without a word. The majority of the warriors, knights and Templar's remained behind. They already are inside castle walls, it didn't matter how ‘weird’ or ‘unique’ it was they would be ready for anything.
The group that headed inside the castle was composed of three knights, the veteran Templar Frederick and his squire, and Lord Ermo. After the group entered the castle, being led by Celestia, they saw a completely different atmosphere.
The inside of the castle walls was impeccable and shiny, the decoration was at a high standard as statues and paintings decorated the walls. But what got Ermo’s attention the most were the creatures, some were not the same species as those outside, and these were wearing very colorful silk clothing, very decorated and extravagant, like the clothing only nobles would wear.
Celestia began to speak to the humans as they moved even deeper into the castle. Ermo was now in the back of the group with one of the knights, he was constantly looking at the castles architecture and hallways with fascination.How did they sustained such a structure?
Celestia stopped the whole group to speak to one of the servants, a griffin, which was just crossing her path.
In said cross path near there was a group, the noble kind.
There was a griffon wearing an expensive looking silk robe with two princess like creatures next to it. Their conversation could be overheard by Ermo and only Ermo, as the group still didn’t understand the language.
“And then he thought I was going to give him food. Doesn’t these peasants know of the famine going on? And they still have the nerve to come to me and beg me for something? I definitely need it, we all surrendered quite a bit due of the shortages, specially the one in lunch, what more did they think we-” The Griffon stopped mid-sentence by looking at Ermo’s direction, making Ermo himself become self-aware that he was staring.
“Can I help you?” Asked the noble with a male sounding voice, his eyes analyzing Ermo from top to bottom trying to understand what he was looking at. Ermo easily moved towards its direction, his warriors on alert but did nothing to stop his movement.
At the Griffon's question the other ‘nobles’ turned, and with faces that shifted from snobbish to surprised quickly, they leaned against each other to pass between themselves information of what they thought of the recent attraction.
Ermo just stared at the familiar sight, Ermo was fascinated by the fact that these ‘nobles’ acted no different from the ones he had met before in his life, in a daily basis as well. But in his starting, time passed, which did not give any points to his favor.
“What is it?” The voice of one of the two whispering horses became louder, “I don’t know, have you ever heard of such a creature?” “Of course not, I just asked you didn’t I?”
As the two horses discussed, the one that noticed Ermo in the beginning spoke in a rather loud matter overshadowing the very bad whisperers.
“Do you speak Equus?” Asked the noble, straining on the words, just like talking to a child, but still with respect. The way that his eyes moved looking for a response, were very familiar to Ermo. They were acting just like...
Ermo smiled internally, he was surprised that they did act like the nobles he was used to... well, if they were creatures that existed in a monster book, but still. If any noble was presented to a foreigner with no introduction, which with him it was all the time, they would usually speak as carefully as possible. Wouldn’t want to harm your reputation with someone of importance now would you?
“I have no idea of what Equus is, but i do understand you and speak as of you. But may I ask of who you may be?” Ermo said, his ‘neutral expression’ mask active as always in situations with nobles.
The Griffon was surprised, he didn't actually think the creature would speak, but now? His interest had peaked as he continued on speaking.
“Very well, I’m known to these lands as Silver Peak and I own the lands north of here, but I was also known as king of the Griffons before I submitted to Princess Celestia... and you haven’t told me who you were and why you came to ask?”
Oh, how much Ermo wished to know what these creatures knew of high nobility.
“My name is Lord Ermo of the great kingdom of Bari, and I have come on a mission of diplomacy and trading.”
Celestia, in the process of Ermo’s interaction, finished the order to the griffin servant. The throne room would be clear and many alicorns would be warned, she really needed to see some of them this week, especially the bachelors. But she noticed the Lord’s voice speaking out loud.
Turning to the direction her hair stood on its tips, the creature must be mad speaking to anythi- he was speaking to the old monarch. She wanted to hoof herself in the face, how could she have not kept an efficient eye on it.
But, for what she could see the conversation was going on with no issue, better yet it was going great, and that made her curious. Moving slowly as possible, anything to not make the Lord’s guards uncomfortable or her guards too nervous. Celestia moved gracefully, the guards close behind.
“Bari? It isn't a small kingdom, is it?” Questioned Celestia jokingly trying to get any information about her ‘new’ friend
“Oh, it’s quite vast and our kingdom has very good relations with Papal States, the Kingdom of Venice, and to proudly announce a military alliance with the Holy Roman Empire and Kingdom of Sicily”
“They sound quite important, what are they?” Questioned Celestia finally getting information of the creatures and this new realm.
“They all are one of the best nations to appease, the Venetians has such a large fleet, that if threaten they can scour the seas with warships of best quality. The Holy Roman Empire has the fiercest fighters of all the land they have conquered all of central Europe in only a couple of years and has acquired quite a sum due to their social policies. But the strongest of all of these great nations will undoubtedly be the Papal States”
Celestia was not liking what she was hearing. The creature was very boast in adding in any opportunity it had about the armies he had on its side. Was he trying to pressure her? Or speaking of armies was common where he comes from?
“How so are they compared to all of these great kingdoms? How could they easily defend against all of them?” Questioned Silver Peak in such a way he might as well be reading the princess mind. It would be good to know to defend themselves if needed be.
“It is because they hold the wisest, the smartest, and also are in indirect contact with our almighty lord who hast created all of man and the land we live in and judges our Immortal soul before paradise.” Ermo says calmly as he glances towards Celestia, his expression slightly frowned as he noticed the she barely shared a glance to his direction as she was in thought.
Time to bring out the big weapons.
Speaking Equus or whatever they called their language, Ermo slowly says the following.
“I’ll have you know in fact I am a king.” Ermo said slowly and carefully
This got their attention as they all did a quick second glance at Ermo.
“Why would you keep such a title a secret?” Asked one of the pony nobles.
“Well, I find more pleasure in being a Lord as such being free from the diplomatic marriages, being treated in such high respect and regard every single day, and also its much more easy tricking the common merchant into paying less, am I right?” Said Ermo smirking expecting to see amazement, but only encountered deep thought. How curious.
Ermo was going into a big leap, he didn't know much about the culture and the way things are done in this kingdom, he simply followed his gut. It delivered most of the time.
“Being a king, you don’t think it would be important to mention in an encounter between two nations?” Celestia added in the conversation.
“I’m not here to represent just myself your highness, I’m representing Christendom.” Ermo said in his neutral fashion.
“Christendom?” Asked the creatures in front of Ermo with a slight turn of their heads
“But before we get sidetracked with meeting each other more, its best we get to the diplomatic talks with all royalty present, and discuss what we are to do and our purposes for us all. I mean, I’m sure by being the ruler you would have your responsibilities, wouldn’t you ‘princess’?” The man wasn’t used to speaking to anyone with a title of princess, much less the ruler of anything, future maybe but actual? Never. Good thing it was not a man.
“Oh, that’s not a real issue right now, all has been taken care of.” Celestia said as she was very curious as to what the ‘representant of Christendom’ and unofficial ‘king’ had in his proposals in the more ‘important matters’.
“I wouldn’t agree to that.” An annoyed voice added itself to the conversation, coming from out of Ermo's vision. And the lord could’ve sworn he saw Celestia froze and curse under her breath.
“Greetings your highness, I haven’t noticed the moment you arrived at the castle. It’s not like I could see an army of creatures in armor enter our castle walls... or anything.” Said the sarcastic, scarred full of yellow patches of fur, horse creature... thing.
Ermo could tell that this... burned thing was of great stature, due to the way he spoke and dressed. The creature wore a hat that was lingered with belles and covered in incredibly detailed stars stitched to it, it also wore a cape or robe of some sorts also full of stars. The eyes were of a yellowish white tone, like gold. Oh, he liked the thing already.
“And who would you be to grace us with your presence?” Ermo asked almost dripping with noble speech when he asked the question.
“Not in the mood to speak to any creature but Celestia, step aside.” Demanded the horse creature in a rude manner.
‘Well, powerful and kind of a loud mouth, this one I should be careful of.’ Ermo thought doing as ‘asked’ and stepping out of the things way. He could feel his men almost growl. They couldn't understand but there was no place in the realm they couldn’t understand the gesture of demanding someone to move.
“Excuse Starswirl, he is not much for socializing with anyone,” Quickly added Celestia as she followed the burned unicorn as it passed her side. But before moving too far from the ‘lord’ she turned and gestured to the griffin she was speaking with earlier, “if you could just follow our maid duster here, she will show you to the meeting place for our ‘diplomatic talks’.”
Ermo watches as the Princess trotted out of the room. Still amazed of all that has happened, he was making his political move work, he was greeted by the princess herself and she trusted enough to have his guards always at present.
He was getting good.
_____________________________________________________________________
“Wow, wow wow, slow down, what do you mean ‘they have enough food to feed us all if they wanted to’?” Asked Starswirl trying to understand what was the excited and angry has been Princess yapping about.
“You could’ve destroyed my entire work on trying to make them trust us, I don’t think of us as the minotaurs once did when the alicorns meet them at the beginnings, good thing you’re barely connected to power, because if did this would be bad. I mean the opportunity is there and you almost snatched it awa-” Celestia ranted, her inexperience showed incredibly as she paced around one of the many tables in the private rooms Starswirl recommended to speak of the situation.
Even if the ‘speak’ was one sided.
“Princess, slow down, you must calm yourself and explain to me what is going on and why is there an army inside our castle walls?!”
“There’s a lot to take care of, we need this to work, make sure we have the servants listening to everything they say, we need all the information we can gather without suspicion about our intentions, Oh, and we need to make sure that NO creature blows this up, have every unicorn move out of the castle if necessary.
“Slow down! Are you even listening to me? Why move everyunicorn? What’s going on? Speak to me in equus!”
“I mean, they hint to be very, very paranoid about magic since they nearly attacked me in multiple occasions before the translation spell could work, and several more as we trotted here, I mean, I was just going to pick something up, it was not something to be worked up about, what do they think I’ll do with an apple?”
“Create a powerful destructive vortex of doom?”
“This is not a laughing matter Star!”
“Then tell me what matter it IS!” Starswirl said satisfied as the ranting princess had finally snapped out of her trance. “And you shouldn’t go to the royal kitchen for a week or two... things have happened.”
“Alright, I am calm... I am calm, in and out... in and out.” Celestia rituals to herself moving a hoof from her chest in a breathing motion.
“What has got you so worked up about these creatures?” Starswirl asked, actually curious. The only other moments he has seen the alicorn like this would be when discord was to die, when the world was going to fall apart and when she was ascended as ruler.
“To begin, these were the creatures I was to meet in our border. The meeting could’ve gone better, I required to make a translation spell to make any good contact, and-”
“Hold on, a translation spell? Without contact? I didn’t think you have such ability princess.”
“The point is that I found out that they carried and wasted a large amount of food, which was just lying in the ground when we arrived. On. The. Ground.”
“But that doesn’t explain what logical reasoning would make you think letting their ‘entire army’ enter our castle borders was a good idea”
“The ‘matter’ that you so much desire to know is that we need to have good relation with them as fast as possible.”
“And why is that?”
“Haven’t you paid attention to me, they have enough food to feed us all if for what I have been able to dig from the ‘leader’ is anything to go by.”
“The thing is princess, those problems we can solve by ourselves with time, we don’t need help from a new and very eager opportunistic ‘helpers’.”
“Starswirl, with that kind of mindset we would have fallen to Discord a long time ago, it’s only through union that we can succeed.”
“BUT, dear ‘princess’ we had a common goal, a common enemy, we NEEDED to combine our forces for the sake of our survival and order, these creatures don’t hold that relation, we shouldn’t go and give anything that crosses our way with a silver platter that solves all our issues at the moment a free pass on trust.”
“If we don’t give trust we are never going to get it, and that’s final! We may eventually get to feed everycreature, but when? When everything hungry is dead and those that survived will get their share? No!” Celestia stated emphasising with her hoof in the floor cracking it slightly. Her face was in all the features of despise, all directed towards the non bearded-unicorn.
The said unicorn looked at her with equal intensity, and with that set face he continued to speak.
“If that’s final princess so be it. Let’s talk security; their warriors, how much of a threat are they to us, what can they do, can we stop them? Or are you just condemning us all to a new danger.”Starswirl stated in a matter-of-fact voice he used to his students. Celestia didn’t even flinch.
“Let’s not talk about their true combat capabilities as of yet, until now I know them to be able to take care of a hydra by themselves and that they always wear full armor everywhere and we have yet to see their face.” The princess paused, thinking over what she was saying.
“So at the end, they still don’t trust you.”
Celestia flinched at that last statement. But said nothing. She just stared at nothing, looking at the wall in thought. The room’s only noise came from outside, that was of course until Starswirl sighed.
“What do they know about us then?” Stated Starswirl, massaging one side of the bridge of his nose.
“Just that we do magic, and they keep calling me all sorts of names and curses during the entire endeavor. Why do you ask?”
“And the only thing stopping you is that they don’t trust you and that you don’t have all the power to decide things for yourself, is that correct?”
“Yes, that is correct, what are you up to Star?”
“What I am up to is that, since I have no power to convince you otherwise, I might as well help do it right.”
“Are you telling me that I am that bad, Star? You hurt me” Celestia said with a very convincing sad face saying it in both a serious and playful tone. She was still hurt by the statement.
“I’m not saying that you're ‘bad’ I’m just trying to tell you that you are new to politics.” Unfazed by Celestia's little filly face.
“Then what do you suggest Starswirl the burned?”
“I suggest that we ‘inform them’ of a little cultural bonding since we need more than just you to convince in this matter?”
“...What?” Celestia asked not catching on what Starswirl was getting to.
“You’ll see.”
_________________________________________________________________
As soon as the servant showed Ermo and his knights to the meeting room what he saw inside was to be the noblest of nobles there could be. And that it was a very, very loose definition, since ALL of them had seen better days.
Creatures of all kind were in the room, Big and small, from horses like the princess in height with horn and wings, to the small horses; from the Griffons to the giant lizards.
But there were two types of nobles. Some maneuvered slugesly, they hadn’t eaten in ages, wearing damaged clothing as if they have spent all their wealth on other things. While others wore more extravagant clothing, but looked as if they came back from the dead; the skin was barring at their bones. The ones that wore the damaged clothing were the minority in the entire meeting room. They themselves don't seem to give it mind, or care, but Ermo has had horses for awhile, and these were definitly dying from hunger.
‘What exactly is going on in this kingdom?’ Was the thought ringing in between Ermo's ear as he continues to look around the room, trying to comprehend what had happened.
His though didn’t go far since he heard the talking in the room immediately stop as the nobles turn their heads to the princess. All but Ermo bowed to Celestia on their knees, basically eating the floor with their faces. Ermo thought nothing of it, and him and his warriors just placed their hands over their heart and bowed slightly.
After the bow, when everycreature looked at them, they started to whisper among each other. The main thing to ask was. “Why isn't he bowing to the princess?”
“Why are you not bowing ‘Lord’ Ermo?” Asked Silver Peak the closest creature to the Lord not from the Lord’s species.
Ermo looked around him, saw his situation and in less than a second after he replied.
“What do you mean? I am bowing respectfully.” That got the creatures talking, the knights of Ermo were in a position where they could’ve sliced their heads off easily. But with Ermo’s quick thinking it didn’t came to be.
The golden burned horse that Ermo saw before was following the princess. The strangely dressed thing coughed loudly to get everyone’s attention, some how the cough almost blew his helmet off. In the heavens above that little thing could speak.
“Let’s get started shall we? Lord Ermo!” The creature spoke in a in a polite manner. Everything in the room with a set of eyes moved towards the mentioned, “Could you please introduce yourself to everycreature? And if possible please remove your headgear as a sign of good intentions, it would be strange for most here to speak to a piece of iron.”
Ermo waited for a second and said in a loud voice which could reach all corners of the room, “But of course!”
Ermo slowly removed his helmet, and for the first time to Celestia and Starswirl his face was seen, and all were shocked to how he looked.
The Lord lacked any kind of fur on its face, perfectly bare, wearing on the top of his head another helmet with a strange silver silk covering everything else, now that Celestia noticed, it was the same that covered its arms and legs.
But the Lord wasn’t done there, he took of the under helmet and freed himself from the silver silk, revealing a mane on the top of its head which had a straight appearance and dark color. He didn’t have a muzzle as his face was flat, and to be added to Celestia’s worries she was pretty sure she saw sharp yellow teeth as he smiled to the group. He began his introduction.
“My title is Lord Ermo of the kingdom of Bari west of your lands and beyond the sea. I have come in name of Christendom, Jesus Christ, and out of curiosity of a suspicious pink flash that appeared in the middle of the night some weeks ago. I have found your kingdom and I wish to welcome you from my kingdom, and if I can, to trade with you.” Ermo ended with the same bow he did before, he moved his helmet to his waist, where it remained.
“How would you wish to trade?” Asked Starswirl, Ermo and Celestia saw his slight smirk neither of them understanding it. At first.
Ermo by years of trading and talks that had become the same as this understood the burned one’s intent.
“Well by trading our food, which is plentiful by the way, for any of your Gold, silver, gems, or any exotic spice you have, we would then have a deal.”
Discussions grew noticeably among the ‘nobles’ in the room. Ermo was sure of his decision of trade and he would stick with it. He was still basing his trade in observation, it was still possible that the nobles actually looked hungry and almost dead looking but he could be in the wrong; he could’ve just insulted them or something in between.
“That’s simple enough.” Celestia said as she stepped forward to the supposed king, “We can arrange to see this through-” Without Celestia’s consent Starswirl moved in front of her.
“Oh, only if we had enough food we would provide you with a traditional feast that is perfect to strengthen diplomatic bond. You on the other hoof have the the chance and if you can provide us with such a feast it can surely strengthen our diplomatic bonds further.” Starswirl said a dramatic tone.
Ermo, in disarray by the request and the fact that he could see some ploy under the golden's statement, but not knowing their culture, denying it could severely hurt diplomatic relations if proved true. He knew what to do.
The nobles were incredibly entangled by Starswirl’s statement, having no knowledge of anything close to a tradition based feast on any case of diplomacy ever. But before anynoble could state this. Ermo spoke.
“We will provide the food then, as a sign of good faith.”
As quick as that, the nobles turn their heads to Ermo in surprise. And only a small few smiled knowing full well of Starswirl’s goal.
“It is best that I inform the cooks to prepare a great feast then, we can have the feast ready by tonight even.”
And the fate of many was sealed.
______________________________________________________________________
Jurian was at an impasse in between pitying the new creatures or helping them survive.
The moment the group turned a corner within the city, Jurian had done what he had always done.
Separate and discover.
And so as he had thought, the city’s entrance until the entrance to the castle was the best the city had to offer. Everything else represented the truthful situation of the kingdom.
As Jurian moved stealthily around the homes and huts made by God knows what. He observed the extra extensions of the roofs, like bird nests, made by leaves and sticks. These covered him perfectly, making it easy to move in between the ‘citizens’ that walked too close for comfort.
Jurian was not alone, no, many small versions of the creatures were lurking in the alleys. Sure to attempt to steal anything of value or eatable in this very harsh city. They were good, but not good enough to notice him. A small version of the small horses suggested to be the leader as they all followed his rhythm.
The same creature he was sent to ‘give a meal.'
Jurian stepped into a small circle made by the position of homes that insinuated abandonment or habited by the dead. Stoppng at the entrance and swiftly tranversing to the wall drenched in shadow. He looked at the scene before him.
Cannibalism and eating the dead was common among the carnivorous creatures, while the horses and other equines mainly cowered or defended themselves and family by being near guards most of the time. Guards that were few and far between.
The scene in front of Jurian hadn’t been the first but he was sure that it wouldn’t be the last. A human like dog was having himself a three course dinner in the other side of the circle of houses, glancing once in a while over his shoulder to make sure he wasn’t being watched before he continued at his pleasure. Jurian took note of how very vibrant was the fur the dog held between its hund-like paws. In his meal the dog didn’t even flinch at Jurian passing next to him.
Jurian thought of a metaphore, and then tried to blend it with the city he was in. He watched a city founded by intelligent puppies, in which they were being constantly eaten by a predator that was actually their neighbor. That’s how pathetic the situation looked.
The city, as many that he had known, was desperate for any kind of hope.
Following the child was an issue, many things to take into consideration while following. Jurian was good and loved challenges but this was becoming a bit overwhelming. So he thought the next option as to follow. Remembering every detail he could from the brown with green child he stepped into the alleyways.
As Jurian moved through the shadows he made sure not to be seen by anycreature when he made it to one of the guard towers near the palace. He quickly glanced around for a quick passage to the horse-childs direction, surely to safety, maybe a home...or alley.
Jurian watched the massive city in its great scale, he looked at everything. A place that resembled a market, another that resembled a whorehouse, he didn’t understand how that would work, and that which appeared to be a barracks outside of castle which he found strange, but yet again, this was a horse’s city. Jurian was only waiting for the time he would find talking and dancing birds to twist his reality appart even more.
Reminding himself of the goal of his Lord, Jurian searched about the direction the small child-horse ran into, it was incredibly hard not to find them with those radiant colors. The child entered a wrecked home, like all those around it.
As Jurian saw the child enters his house, something got his attention at the corner of his right eye, he could clearly see a man-bull child running from some of the griffon guards, it tripped on a body of something on the street. Then the small thing become promptly beaten for what he saw was for stealing an apple. He clutches the little red fruit with dear life eating as fast as he could, the griffons beat the small creature until they though he had enough, then took it away.
One of the griffons stopped at its ‘duty’, it had felt his presence, and it took a quick glance at Jurian before he disappeared.
Now Jurian had the location of the horse-child, he sneakily made through the strange marketplace without being seen, passing through two alleyways before entered the home of the creature through a small open window.
Inside the house there were not many places to hide, but there was. A shadowy corner big enough to conceal his person with not so much trouble was his hiding place. And from his hiding spot he was able to see most of the household, and that was enough.
The ‘child’ was there, he watched as it took care of an older and much more weak horse. Taking mops around the room and covering the one in the floor for heat. Its mother maybe, who Jurian assumed was lying down because it was sick of something.
This small scene reminded Jurian of something, his childhood. Of when his mother died of a disease and he was forced to live on his own; the only thing to remember his father was his warhammer in which he carried with pride.
The horse-child somehow sensed Jurian, maybe due to his distraction, it turned around and its features became bigger, maybe surprised. The horse child in fear and surprise froze, eyes wide like a deer before being killed by an arrow.
Jurian has seen the scene before, he was amazed with the similarities.
“Just like taming your first horse as well as meeting a child from the shadows... at the same time.” Jurian muttered under his breath he was used to both situations. It was basically a horse with a child’s mind.
Jurian, already familiar with the scene, was incredibly calm and took of his helmet, the small creature was sure to not see his eyes if he was to wear it. Not making eye contact as he drew near, each time the small horse took a step back Jurian stopped, the quick movement caused the small horse to stop as well. Keeping this strategy Jurian came so close to the small creature that he might as well be riding it.
As Jurian reached for the bag on his side, the horse child covered its face already resigning to fate. With that kind of bravery he might as well finish it, but Jurian had an order to complete.
The small thing heard nothing as it waited for its doom, it dared to steal a glance to its killer but found nothing, but instead in front of him a red and juicy apple stared at him back.
The horse child quickly grabbed the apple in his mouth and trotted over to it ill ‘mother’, looking around the home in case it was just a sadistic trick. He presented it to the ill horse like the most amazing thing in life. The weak creature in surprise to see food rubbed its eyes to make sure it was imagining it.
The ‘mother’, barely understanding the situation tried to stand, the child held her down shoving the apple basically in the weak ones mouth. The ‘mother’ opened its eyes in wonder as having eaten the most glorious thing since life itself.
Jurian watched the scene from his hiding spot in between the nests in the roof in an angle that looked through the window he had opened to enter to the broken home. Already sure that his bag full of apples was inside the house and visible. He stared at the child a little too long for his liking.
With his order completed he was ready to go into a mission of his own, the one he wanted to do.
Knowing what he knows, hunger and poverty are very strong motives to achieve anything for food. Even killing food trading boats and maybe tricking armies into believing they’re safe before striking and using them as food.
“Let’s see what these creatures are truly hiding.” Jurian muttered as he disappeared into the shadows heading towards the palace.