Twilight took a deep breath.
Good she thought to herself as she noted that her increased pulse and breathing and therefore anxiety was beginning to fade. She knew she could do this, she had studied Griffon culture extensively in the bowels of Canterlot library before coming, or rather, she had studied as much as she could while on the flight over from records recovered from so deep in the archives that they outdated the unification of the Griffon Empire entirely.
She would have preferred more primary sources, maybe some more recent texts, or possibly an interview or two from actual citizens of the griffon empire, but she would work with what she had.
Here we go. She mentally committed as she forced her way forward with increasing pace and determination.
She now appreciated the fact that there had been no staff present in the halls. At first it had disquieted her, not finding a welcoming committee, or whatever kind of reception one would give to those coming to secure their nation's surrender, but the ever-present fear of ambush had passed just as it had during the march through the streets, and the empty hall had allowed her to drop her facade enough to collect herself a little before the real test began.
She was ready.
She ignored the massive portraits that lined the walls, each showing either a massive griffon decked in finery or upon the corpses of some other being.
She was ready-
She spied to the massive oak doors that stood testament to the griffon ideal of power.
She was ready-
She looked to each of the massive timbers that reinforced the boat-hull of a doorway.
She was ready-
She made sure that her calculations were right.
She was ready.
And she released her charge.
"BOOM!"
The doors burst inwards, the immense barriers that had no doubt resisted all manner of siege and coup being all but annihilated as she continued through unimpeded.
They almost certainly weren't locked or secured, and she was momentarily saddened by the thought that she wouldn't be able to study what had likely been significant parts of griffon history, but she did what she must in order to do what needed done.
Shock and awe in everything she did. Power, plain and simple. That was what griffons respected, and respect was what she needed if this all was doing was going to go off without incident.
Confirming that her blast has knocked the doors clear from their hinges and had properly buckled without shattering into shrapnel, she was pleased to note that they had also been flung appropriately to the edges of the room. It was hard to negotiate with those who were too busy picking splinters from their eyes or being crushed by a modest house's worth of debris.
Her stride did not falter, even as she kicked stray timbers out of her path.
Big entrance: check.
Get the first word in: What better way then while they are still trying to find their doors?
"I am Twilight Sparkle!" She shouted forward, refusing to look up to anyone, "and you know why I have come!" She didn't explain herself to anyone either.
She finally drew to a halt, much closer to the throne than any petitioner would be allowed to be, yet still far enough that she wasn't talking to the steps.
"Yes, we know why you have come," a solemn voice said from off to the side of the throne.
Twilight shot her harshest glare at whatever being would dare address her in the stead of the Emperor, only to find the griffon in question wearing the iconic crown that all the paintings in the previous hall had depicted.
Twilight showed no outward signs of her surprise, keeping her glare as steady as possible.
"Then you know what I desire!" She shouted again. Volume also equated to power apparently, a point she was doing her best to follow despite the king before her apparently not doing the same.
"Yes, arrangements are in order..." the Emperor said solemnly.
"Good. We will begin at once!"
As she had hoped, the next moments more or less followed the vague description of protocol she had found.
The Emperor produced the sword of state, another artefact she would be all but giddy to encounter in any other situation, and the Emperor held it up to her as he bowed before her.
Things were going much better than expected.
She took the sword from the Emperor's talons with her magic, bringing it to herself. Peeking the blade from its sheath, she noted the masterful engraving that would be receiving a pencil etching and a lot of study later.
Everything was going as well as she had only dared hope in her most forgiving contingencies. Now all that was needed was for the Emperor to stand back up and bring them to where they could more easily discuss the terms of his surrender.
As soon as he stood back up...
...
...
...
Twilight began to feel uneasy as the pair stood unmoving, one standing proud, and the other bowing tensely.
Was she supposed to do something? Had she missed something! What was she supposed to-
"Allow me my pride, and swiftly claim your prize." He said, still prostrate, taut with tension.
What was she supposed to do!
She allowed another eternal moment to pass.
"Do not make me wait! There is no pride in delaying your conquest! Do it already!"
Were they going to do the negotiations here? Was she supposed to make her demands while he bowed before her? This was so far out of the records!
She decided to go for it.
"You will cease hostilities immediately and make ready to..." the words died in her throat as the griffon broke posture and looked up at her with flat confusion in his eyes.
"...make ready to..." Twilight tried to continue on, but the Emperor's look only grew in intensity.
"...what?" She finally asked, unable to figure out what was causing him to act so.
Apparently he was just as shocked because he made no moves either, just staring at her with that unsettling expression.
For another awkward eternity the two simply stood staring at each other, Twilight's previous stoic fortitude waning.
Finally she couldn't take it anymore.
"What! What's going on!"
He said nothing, but his eyes flitted briefly to the sword of state gripped in her magic.
No... he couldn't be...
Then it hit her.
He wasn't bowing to her...
...he was presenting his neck!
Twilight reeled in a mix of shock and revulsion.
"I'm not going to-! I-! Did you think I was going to kill you!"
The old griffon's expression defied the odds and became even more unsettling.
"You have to. Your rule is not legitimate without my head."
Twilight's mind went into shut-down at his words, operating under emergency power that granted her an odd clarity.
"What do you mean?" She asked
"Your rule cannot be secured while I yet live. I present myself to you so that my family and line may be spared by swearing themselves to you."
A deep silence allowed the words to sink in.
"No! I'm not here to- I'm here to secure your surrender!"
"And here I am before you, surrendering myself. The proper arrangements were made before your arrival. My line will serve you faithfully under the greatest of bindings. You need not fear revolt. The populace is aware of the standing of the Empire, and the families of the soldiers have been gathered. I have made certain that there is nothing that shall turn against you, for I have seen your power. For the good of the Empire, we are subject to you."