Hello everyone I am going to give you a warning this chapter was redone and rethought maybe 4 different times so if you see anything out of place or just doesn't make sense. Let me know in the comments so I can straighten it out.
The royals stared at the short creature for almost a minute before Celestia started to speak. “Discord wha- who is this.” Celetia took a step forward and examined the short creature.
“And it talks, wonderful.” The creature rubbed the bridge of her short muzzle. Celestia took a step back when it moved. “Well speak then I will give you my name if you give me yours.”
Celestia, not getting any help from discord as he was too busy snickering behind her, sighed and extended her wings. “I am Princess Celestia Co-ruler of Equestria, and regent of the sun. Who may I ask are you.”
The creature raised its head looking directly into her eyes. Celestia could see pride, sorrow and hardship that came with a long life reflected in it's dull green eyes. “And I am Sereda Aeducan, Paragon and Princess of house Aeducan. As for the what, don’t think I didn’t catch that, I am a Dwarf of Orzammar. Now what of yourself. You resemble a horse but have wings and a horn.” She then pointed to discord. “And you look like an archdemon had sex with a nug.”
Discord huffed and crossed his arms “Rude.” A murmur of snickers and giggles rounded the room.
“You don’t look like any demons or spirits I’ve seen and this doesn’t feel like the fade.” Celestia smiled at the inquisitive woman she almost reminded her of twilight with her observations.
“We are not demons or spirits… well discord technically is, but myself, Princesses Luna, Twilight and Cadence are all alicorns a species of ponies who have both horns and wings.” She gestered to each of the ponies in the room. “Twilight’s brother is prince Shining Armor and he’s a unicorn. There are also pegasi who have wings and earth ponies who have neither. Does that answer your question?” Celestia always loved to teach.
“Thoroughly, though I don’t think I was brought here just to say hi.” The alicorn nodded.
“Indeed, Discord why did you bring Princess Aeducan here?” She asked looking back at the draconequus.
“Right you see our biggest issue is that we haven’t dealt with war since the time of King Sombra. So I got to thinking,” he hovered over behind the Paragon. “Since we don’t know what to do, then why not ask an expert?”
Sereda just raised an eye brow “Shoulda figured it’d be something like that.” She moved over the map to get a good look at it. Celestia and Discord followed after her. Shining armor then made his concerns known.
“Now hold on, I can get behind that we need help but can we really trust this pony?” Shining pointed a hoof at the paragon. “We know nothing about her and why would an outsider just help us just because we asked?” Celestia was about to defend her decision but the dwarf spoke first.
“You’d make a good dwarf, pony. You got a good head on your shoulders and healthy attitude to new comers. And there a few reasons why I’d jump to help you. First and foremost, I don’t have to deal the deshyrs or nobles for a while. Second I generally enjoy helping people… and busting skulls… and stabbing things, people… objects. Huh?… moving on.” Every pony in the room just stared at her as Discord chuckled. “Third I’m still half convinced I’m hallucinating and figure sod it may as well and see where this little episode takes me. As for if you can trust me or not well that’s in the ancestors’ hands isn’t it?” Suddenly Celestia wasn’t so sure about her decision. “Now what are we looking at here.”
With a little more coaxing Shining fell on board if just to hear what she might have to offer on the situation. They discussed the situation for hours bouncing ideas back and forth. Twilight wasn’t paying attention and was instead thinking about the wayward dwarf. What kind of culture she must have? What trials lead to the scare running down her cheek? These thoughts and more ran through her mind so much she couldn’t take her eyes off her. That is of course till she spotted what looked like a black stone tablet laying on the pristine marble floor. How no one else noticed it was beyond her as it stuck out like a sore hoof. Looking around the table she noticed no one else was paying attention to her so she slid from table and made her way over to the object. She was shocked at how heavy it was. It was more like she was lifting a lead weight than a small tablet.
She brought the tablet closer to her face so she it better. The first several lines were in a hieroglyphic style of writing she couldn’t even identify. The next was block letters reading //Duncan 9:30, King Cailan Theirin 9:30, Davith Siral 9:30, Ser Jory 9:30 // she read each and one slowely, she could tell it was a memorial but of what she was unsure as there were names that didn’t have any kind of number or indication that she could reason to be a year and why were their different languages on them. She was caught up she didn’t notice the figure standing next to her or that the room had grown silent. Twilight was startled when someone cleared their throat next to her. She released a surprised “Ah!” and fumbled to catch the tome and turned her head to who had surprised her.
“I believe that belongs to me.” Sereda’s neutral stare unnerved her a little as the paragon had been friendly and cooperative since she arrived.
Gently the alicorn handed the tablet over to the dwarf. “Sorry… it was just lying there and I got curious-and-I-couldn’t-really-offer-anything-to-conversation-an-“ The dwarf clamped the rambling mare’s mouth shut with her hand.
“It’s alright, this just has sentimental value and I didn’t expect it to fall through with me.” She stared at the tome with a strange look that Twilight couldn’t place before she moved to the table and set it face down. “Now where were we?”
Shining spoke "We’ve mostly gone over everything our plan right now is to hit choke points and protect the civilians. As much as possible.”
Sereda considered everything they had tactics, armor, weapon and even compared their priorities and could only come to one definitive answer. “You need help.” Shining and the gathered ponies looked at her confused.
“But isn’t that why you’re here? To give us advice on how to proceed.” Cadence intoned.
Sereda shook her head, “That’s not what I meant You need allies. From what I can gather this Tirek has a massive army that’s increasing every day. If you stand alone your defenses will be over run and your civilians slaughtered.” She moved her hand and pointed to Zebrica. “What about them are you on good relations with them?”
Celestia studied the country for a moment before a lightbulb seemed to go off in head. “Of course, we have always been on good terms with Zebrica if anypony would up us it’s them.”
Luna then jumped in. “Don’t forget Minos, the minotaurs would most likely be itching to jump in. They are a bit rowdy but we could use them Tia.”
Cadence add her own country to the mix smiling confidently. “You already of the support of the crystal empire so you don’t even need to ask.”
A light seemed to go off in Twilight’s mind as she remembered some important creatures missing. “We may even be able to ask Ember to help us!”
Celestia seemed hesitant and eyed her student carefully. “If you think it’s possible to get their help in this coming battle Twilight then I urge you to try. However, I am also hesitant to allow dragons to wreak havoc on our land.”
That got Sereda’s attenition “You think you can get DRAGONS to help!” She stared at the purple alicorn in disbelief.
Twilight answered hesitantly do to the outburst. “Um… well maybe. Have you worked with dragons before?”
Sereda held a deadpanned expression as she addressed her. “No but I have watched as they have ravaged landscapes. Even killed a few myself.”
Sounding like her certain shy friend of hers she said “Oh… uh… well maybe that’s a bad idea.”
Sereda shook her head. “No. If you have faith that you can get them to help then by all means we should at least try.”
Shining scratch his head before adding more info. “It may be a long shot but maybe the griffins?”
Sereda was once again shocked and this time excited. “YOU HAVE GRIFFINS!”
It was Shining’s turn to look nervous. “Um… yes, they lost their king some centuries ago and have been fighting over their their crown ever since, but I figure we could buy their services.”
Sereda seemed to deflate at that but not for the reasons they thought. “Ah mercenaries are usually good but we can’t trust them completely now is there anything else one else who might be able to help us.” The group thought about but ultimately shook their heads. “Alright good now we need to address your-“
She was interrupted by the double doors slamming open and a white unicorn with a blond mane came in. “AUNTY TIA!! I demand you do something this horrid article!” Everyone turned to the narcissistic pony. All the ponies in the room wore faces of annoyance, but in Sereda’s case she just raised an eyebrow at the picture it seemed to be unicorn in question with the words Canterlot’s Worst of the Worst written beneath. The unicorn’s eyes settled on the dwarf and he recoiled in disgust. “What IS this creature and why was it been allowed in my presence?!”
Celestia really didn’t want to deal with the buffoon at the moment. So she scowled at the pony “Prince Blueblood! You are interrupting an important war meeting! And will not tolerate interruption!”
Blueblood Recoiled at Celestia’s outburst but then scoffed. “If this meeting is important then why have you allowed this monkey to be present!”
Cadence leaned over to Luna and whispered “The pot said to the kettle.” And they both snickered quietly.
Sereda just stared at the raging prince before she had enough and challenged him. “Are you questioning my ability to perform my duty?” This shocked not just the prince everyone in the room because her voice had taken an almost ghostly tone that promised punishment.
Blueblood the ever pompous he is didn’t register the danger and raised his nose in the air. “I am surprise you can speak let alone perform any duties.”
Sereda raised her eyebrow once again and turned to Celestia. “Celestia in my culture a remark like that is one of the highest insults you can give. It questions not just your ability but suggests you dishonor your ancestors.” Celestia seemed to grow pale at the implication. “If this was Orzammar I would be honor bound to fight in a proving match. But this is not Orzammar and I am a guest in your country what does your law state?”
Celestia was frozen no doubt the paragon would kill the dumb prince and before she could respond in a way that could save bloodshed, Twilight decided at the worst time to be a law expert. “Since your technically a royal diplomat, especially since you’re helping with this invasion, any slight against you, or your culture will be answered by what your culture and laws abide.” Twilight smiled brightly as though she just passed an exam.
Sereda smiled “Well that makes things quite interesting.” She addressed Blueblood who seemed more or less confused on what was going on. “Well then Blueblood was it?” The oafish prince looked at the paragon with disdain.
“That’s PRINCE Blueblood to you creature.” He stuck his nose in the air not understanding the position he’d put himself in.
“Very well since you have shown great disrespect to me and my ancestors I challenge you to a Proving. To prove which one of us belongs at this table.”
Blueblood looked toward Celestia, “Aunty Tia, what is this creature on about?”
Celestia looked to her nephew with what little pity she could offer. “The creature you have been referring to is Princess Sereda Aeducan of Orzammar, and qualifies as a diplomat. You have insulted her honor by suggesting she cannot perform her duties here, and that is apparently a grave offense for her people.” It suddenly started sink into the buffoon, but he didn’t let is show or tried not to. They could already see the sweat starting to form. “And as our law dictates she is able to punish you in whatever form her culture and laws allow. And she has chosen to deal with you in the form of a… Proving?” She looked to Sereda and received a nod in return. “Yes a Proving though I don’t know what it entails it is her right to issue it.” She fixed the unicorn with a glare. “And it is our law, that you answer it.”
Blueblood has significant knowledge of the laws and knew that when it came to relations to foreign nations there was zero leeway. The only one to overturn or defy the law was the alicorns themselves. So mustering all whatever regality he could he turned to the paragon. “I appear to have overstepped my bounds.” Shocking some of the ponies in the room with his courtesy that he lacked mere moments ago. “So I accept the punishment of which you choose.” Celestia and Cadence the alicorns who knew Blueblood the longest could see the underlying worry in his voice. And they knew that it was only to satisfy Celestia.
“You do your ancestors proud by facing the proving.” Blueblood didn’t really know how to take that. To be told he did his forefathers proud had a weight to the words that he never really considered. Lineage had always been important yes as it defined you as a noble, but that’s where it ended you were a noble. You couldn’t be anymore or any less than that, you just were. Despite all of their boasting, every noble came from someone who contributed greatly to society or worked so hard their hooves blead to achieve greatness. To suddenly be compared to that ancestor was a feeling he couldn’t place.
“I… uh… thank you my lady.”
Sereda gave a friendly disarming smile before she started a lecture. “Now then I realize you are ignorant to my culture, so I will enlighten you with the basics. A Proving is a duel fought for honor, glory, and to settle disputes between nobles. To the dwarves of Orzammar your ancestors mean everything, we don’t have gods or goddesses, and when we die we return to the stone and join our ancestors.” The conversation had every pony present enraptured by and intrigued by the concept, even discord was leaning forward trying to learn more. “To win a proving means the ancestors favor you and the outcome proves without doubt who wins the dispute. The winner is decided by death, incapacitation or surrender. The proving can be armed or unarmed, this is decided before the battle is placed. Should we fight armed any tactic can be used sword, spear, bow even magic is not forbidden. In unarmed combat we fight with no armaments or magic, not even clothing is allowed. The provings can also take place in teams were each team fights for their cause. Additionally, as a noble you have the option choose a champion from your house to fight in your name.” Blueblood who looked about ready urinate on himself released a sigh of relief. Only get sucked back in by the last tidbit of information. “The champion has full right to reject the nobles offer. “Do you understand these guidelines Prince Blueblood?”
Blueblood gulped and took a shaky breath in. “I understand.” Celestia took this moment to step in.
“While my nephew must follow the law I cannot allow you to kill him.” She gave the paragon a hard look. But all she got was a flippant hand wave.
“Oh don’t worry Celestia I wasn’t going to kill him, in fact the provings so often resulted in death that it was decreed that should the dispute affect Orzammar negatively then death would be forbidden. And since I wish to stay in your good graces then I shall endeavor to not cause permanent harm.” Celestia nodded and stepped back from the exchange and Sereda addressed BlueBlood once more. “Now as I told Celestia, I want no strife with Equestria. Also we should perform this here and now because there is still much to discuss.” Blueblood nodded. And they took position several feet away from each other as the other ponies moved to the side of the room all curious and nervous at what was transpiring. “Now it’s your choice as I challenged you will this be armed or unarmed.”
Blueblood hesitantly answered. “I am more comforatable with my magic and rapier so I choose armed.”
“Excellent!” She turned to other ponies in the room. “Celestia if you would?” Blueblood took this opportunity to summon his rapier and took a battle stance. Sereda did same brandishing her sword and shield.
The tension was thick the combatants prepared. Blueblood was practically cursing himself for causing the whole mess, but Sereda was calm even a small smile. It wasn’t smirk of confidence or a manic grin of insanity. It was smile one would receive as though they were saying “hello” or “nice to meet you”
Sereda decided to have one final word before it started. “May the ancestors smile on you and honor to your house.”
There it was again the thought that he should do his forefathers proud. It was so odd he had no knowledge of how his ancestors became nobles. The more he thought about it the odder he felt. Growing up he always wanted to do his father proud but this wasn’t the same feeling. It was like his forefathers, all of them, watching him judging his actions.
Celestia snapped her right wing open. “Begin!”
Sereda looked like she had been shot out of a cannon, charging at Blueblood. Whether out of fear or reflex the stallion dodged, only to be hit with the flat of Sereda’s blade and was launched into the adjacent wall. The other ponies gasped and Celestia looked on in worry.
Sereda kept her smile. “I knew there was more to you than just being a pompous noble.”
Blueblood remained standing rapier in hoof pointed out to his right and a magic shield surrounding him. He was breathing hard and his knees shook, but still stood. His horn lit and illuminated his blade. He began swinging the blade rapidly and to the shock of all the ponies in the room small balls of fire flew from the tip towards Sereda. The paragon used shield to block the fire.
“Wait a minute how is he casting that many spells so fast!” Shining shouted disbelieving what he was seeing.
Celestia stared on with wide eyes as she answered. “Unbelievable, I didn’t think that technique was still in practice.” Other ponies turned their attention to her. “That skill dates back to princess platinum and when the three tribes were still at war. It was a skill set called the duelist mage. The unicorn places a spell in a medium in Bluebloods case, his rapier. The link from medium to magic allows him cast that same spell for as many times as his internal magic allows in rapid succession.”
Twilight turned back to the fight in disbelief. “No way.”
Blueblood continued to fire spells at the paragon at an alarming rate. The only problem was that they were all weak spells and weren’t doing any damage at all. Sereda was either taking the hits or deflecting them and still she kept that same friendly smile. Frustrated Blueblood began building all the mana he had into one last spell. He didn’t understand why he was going so far this “Proving” but for some reason he just couldn’t surrender even though it was obvious that he was going to lose.
His many finally depleted he released a large ball of pure magic at the dwarf. Seeing it coming she stood her ground and raised her shield. The ball hit the shield but Sereda wasn’t budging an inch. In fact, she was walking forward almost casually pushing the magic monstrosity back towards the unicorn!
Once the ball dissipated Sereda was still walking towards the beaten noble. Blueblood had taken to his knees and stared with blurry vision as she approached. Once right in front of him he weakly tried to raise his sword again but it merely tapped her chest plate before he fell unconscious. He could only faintly hear her words. “You have done your ancestors proud.” And he smiled.
Looking away from the unconscious unicorn and back to the group Sereda announced. “Now let’s talk tactics and armor.”