Chapter 13: A visit ends and a Plan arrives (Edited)
Chapter 13: A visit ends and a plan arrives
Edited by: pahnazd
“Uhm….” Was all that Ruby could utter as she looked between the Emperor and Thera respectively on the table, both of them looking quite sleep depraved and unfocused.
She may not know what could have possibly happened to either of them, but it didn’t take a genius to guess what the culprit might be, especially when Thera gave off a yawn.
“Wonder what kept these two up all night. The emperor being somewhat understandable, but Thera?” Ruby thought while focusing back on her own breakfast.
Mateus, on the other end, was not in the mood for anything edible that required chewing. After that little…chat with Thera, the majority of the night was just spent by aimlessly wandering the Palace halls, his night terrors making it pretty much impossible for him to get any shut eye last night.
Normally, all-nighter wouldn’t drain him that much, but a combination of continued late-night studies, overall planning and designing for the future, and the fact that his past keeps hunting him pretty much meant that exhaustion would factor in sooner than later.
Especially when all he could think of, strangely enough, were the questionable decisions he had made in the past, and the loss of his dear mother…
It’s been quite a while ever since he felt so tired and unfocused, an experience he could certain live without hench forth if he could help it.
“Uhm… your highness, would you rather have some coffee instead? You certainly look like you could need something stronger.” A maid beside him piped up, rousing the unfocused emperor from his thoughts.
The only answer she got was a wave of his hoof. The maid was rather confused at first before Mateus looked at her.
“Yes, just go get me coffee.” He responded before going back to resting his head on his hoof.
She nodded before going over to the royal kitchen to do just that.
“Well, this is certainly going to be a slow day. I just know it.” Ruby muttered before taking another bite from her toast.
“Slow? You don’t even know what slow is.” Mateus commented before resting his gaze back at the table below him.
The polished wood gave him enough to criticize because he spotted a tiny scratch right next to his elbow.
The awkward silence was swiftly dispelled when a set of hooves suddenly broke the tension, coming directly from the stairs behind the emperor’s chair by the looks of things.
“Well… yes, Shining. The citizens seemed all to be pretty happy with their current situation. In fact, some of them even celebrated their new…” An added voice said, before quickly stopping itself, alongside with the clip-clopping of hooves once they noticed that the room was actually occupied.
Both Ruby and Thera looked up, even the emperor was looking over his shoulder and spotted the pair of dignitaries and the two guards who were responsible for this ruckus. All perfectly dressed, with saddlebags at the ready.
Ruby arched an eyebrow before swiftly getting up from her chair to greet the two. “Greetings, Princess Cadence and Sir Shining. But... what’s with the saddlebags? Aren’t you going to dine with us first before heading home?” Ruby questioned.
Cadence shook her head. “Sadly, no. We need to return to Canterlot as soon as we can to inform Princess Celestia everything that has happened so far.” She explains, sounding quite sorry for her sudden departure.
Ruby nodded. “I see. Can’t you maybe send a message with magic instead?” Ruby asks.
Cadence shook her head. “We tried earlier this morning but…” She trailed off” The constant snow storm outside is somehow interfering with the spell. We can’t get a clear message across because of it.” She explains tilting her head a bit.
Ruby again nods. “I see, I see. That is very much unfortunate. But that is simply how the weather is up here. Especially at this time of the year. “She comments before turning her attention to her monarch.
“Would you like to see them off too, your highness?” Ruby asked.
Mateus waved her off.” No, no. I would love to but I can’t. I have a meeting to arrange with many of the local nobles and commoners that are in charge with the city’s trade, industries and the city’s infrastructure and so on. Not to mention giving Sir Cid a little visit later on too.” He answered before a maid suddenly emerged while carrying a tray on her back.
A tray which was carrying both a kettle and two cups, respectively.
“Well, in that case, it will be just me then. My most sincere apologies for this issue, Princess.” Ruby apologized after switching her gaze back to the princess and her spouse.
Cadence just smiled. “Ah, it's nothing. I can understand why his imperial majesty is busy right now. Running and rebuilding a nation that has been gone for over a thousand years does require a lot of work, especially when trying to be so ambitious.” She responded before turning to the golden unicorn.
“Your majesty, it was a pleasure. But both my duties and my two aunts are anxiously waiting for my return. I am sorry that our visit was cut so abruptly.” She announced with a bow which Shining followed.
“No need to bother yourself with that, Princess. Duties are duties, after all. Though feel free to visit anytime if your benevolence allows as it has so far. Those who wish no harm to me and these citizens are always welcome within the city.” Mateus answered, giving her a small, kind smile.
Cadence returned it, though hers a lot larger and a lot more genuine than the emperor’s, before turning to her husband.
“Let’s go, Shining as long as the weather outside is still somewhat mild and acceptable.” She suggests, to which he nods.
“As my wife said, thanks for the hospitality.” Shining added before he and the rest of the trope finally excuse themselves out of dining room, followed by Ruby as promised. That left only the drowsy emperor and an equally drowsy looking Thera behind.
The entire room quickly fell into silence, minus the pouring of coffee and the soft snoring of Thera next to him. Thera having at some point simply fallen asleep on the table.
The emperor didn’t mind that much, as he understood. His own body was urging him to do the same as he grabbed the cup with his magic before taking a tentative sip from it.
“Hmmm…this is some good coffee.” He exclaimed while looking at the cup in front of him.
The mare next to him smiled. “Thanks, your highness. It’s actually an old family recipe.” She confirmed with a nod.
The emperor hummed again before taking another sip. “Well, my thanks to your family then.” He responded before finishing the rest.
“Thank you for liking it so much, your highness. You have no idea how much this means to me, and my aunt and uncle.” She beamed.
Mateus simply accepted her thanks for what it was before helping himself of another cup and downing it almost immediately.
“You know what? I am just going to take this with me.” He announced before getting up his seat with the kettle and mug floating next to him. Surprising the maid but didn’t bother or dare to say anything as the emperor simply left the dining room without much of a fuss.
This left only her and a knocked out Thestral who was now drooling over the table.
She scratched her head. “Well, nobody has ever instructed me what to do with someone who is sleeping at the dining table. Should I wake her or just leave her as it is?” She asked herself while gazing at the snoring mare.
“She hasn’t even touched her food. Well, a quick snack won’t be that bad. I doubt she would mind” She exclaimed before sneakily snatching the morsel for herself.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Cid was looking over the plans and diagrams that the emperor has gifted him with for like the thousandth time and still he was in awe at the complexity and genius behind them.
“How come I have never thought of this myself?” He wondered to himself as he looked at a very particular plan; one revolving around a machine with legs that can be driven by a pony, powered both with oil, steam and magic at the same time.
“Honey, I think you have a visitor!” Cid’s wife called out, somehow still noticeable despite the noise of heavy machinery echoing through his workshop.
Cid turned his head away from the diagrams and looked up at his spouse, standing at the back entrance to his shop in all of her well-dressed glory.
“Is that so? Tell them that I am currently busy.” He responded quickly before looking back at the diagrams laying on top of his table.
“Actually, it is the emperor himself, honey. He is currently occupying our front lawn with his regiment of guards, waiting to speak with you.” Maple added, which caused Cid to almost drop his tea in surprise just when was about to take a sip from it.
His head immediately snapped back up to his wife with alarmed eyes. “What? Why haven’t you let the emperor in then? Allow his highness entry for the gods’ sake!” He frantically replied.
Maple casually nodded before disappearing again from behind the door, with her long and luxurious ginger colored tail being the last to disappear from Cid’s view.
“You hear that, boys? Stop your clanking and stop your welding, the emperor himself is giving us a visit today! So, drop everything and make sure that shop looks presentable!” Cid shouts, causing everyone to cease their work, only for all of them to frantically start stowing and carrying everything away and swiping the rest under the tables out of sheer panic.
Cid did the same as he tries to tidy up the clutter on his table, mostly stacking up all the diagrams and scrolls in a neat and acceptable pile only for them to quickly crash and fall onto the ground right after, which caused Cid to cry out in frustration.
Though a knock on the door frame swiftly ceased his calls as he froze. He gazed back, only to be met by the sight of crystal guards standing at the house entrance to his workshop, fully equipped and armed.
“His Imperial highness, is here and wishes to ask for entry into your workshop to discuss important matters with thee.” The guard announced with a deep and almost emotionless tone.
Cids nodded. “Well yes, of course. Thanks for the heads up.” Cid replied.
The guard nodded before moving out of view, only to be swiftly replaced by the golden form of the emperor himself who was wearing nothing but some casual robes while lacking both his staff and armor. Even his hair was styled differently than usual, being combed back a bit and not sporting the organized wild style he also once had.
Though the strong magical presence he exuded was still there - something even Cid could sense, despite lacking a horn.
“Sir Cid.” Mateus began as he stood in front of the mechanic.
Cid’s nodded and bowed. “Your highness, you honor me and my wife with your visit. What is it that I can help you with inside my workshop, your majesty?” Cid began before rising from his bow.
“Simple, just wanted to see if you have managed to make any sense of all of the diagrams, I gave you.” Mateus asked, looking at the noble with a casual look.
Cid nodded. “Yes of course I have, your Majesty. Though not all of them just yet to be honest, as I can only review so many diagrams at any given time.” He replied in an apologetic tone.
Mateus just waved it off. “No problem, I just came here to hear your opinions and test your expertise. Can you build them?” He asked, getting straight to the point.
Cid again nodded. “Well yes, of course.” He replied before pulling out a random diagram from the pile and began looking at it once more. Mumbling to himself before replying “Well, the only problem would be in gathering up all of the required material to build them, let alone mass produce them, as you could probably guess. The crystal empire has a very large abundance of crystals of all properties, natures, and sizes, but sadly nothing else to compensate for that.” He added, before gazing back at the emperor with an unsure look.
Mateus tapped his chin in thought. “Well, what about the nearby mountains? Surely some of them should be hosting some ore deposits here and there or rare metals for us to extract. Geologically speaking, mountains are structures lifted up from the earths crust and dragging much minerals and alloys along with it. Theoretically speaking.” He explains, which made Cid scratch his scalp while also thinking about it.
“Could certainly be worth an expedition. To be honest, nobody has ever considered prospecting the mountains around us for any useful metals, and for a good reason. Why exert ourselves to dig through mountains when we have an almost never-ending abundance of crystals to lean back on just below the city? Plus, we also used to trade these crystals in exchange for any other resources we might have needed, such as ore and other materials. There was simple never a demand for us to extract these resources ourselves. At least in recent history.” Cid explained before looking back at the blueprints in front of him and then to the rest sitting on his desk.
“As you could guess, trading will most certainly be no longer an option, especially when considering just how much raw materials in the future. We need our own source.” Mateus added, to which Cid nodded.
“True. I can discuss this with some of the other nobles in city. The nobility here pretty much owns and holds most of the empire’s finances and pony power to conduct such large-scale projects and mining operations.” Cid added.
“Good.” Mateus replied. “Get this operation started then as soon as possible. I shall then also inform the captain of the crystal guard to pick a portion of his guards to assist with the scouting efforts. Time is of the essence. The city itself is still heavily exposed, with or without the shield.” He added.
Mateus was about to take his leave before a thought suddenly struck him - the second reason why he decided to come here in the first place.
He turned himself back around.
“By the way, how is the work on the first prototype going? Have you already acquired all the necessary equipment and materials you need?” He question, causing the stallion to perk up.
“Oh, you mean those mechanical walkers?” He questioned, which the emperor answered by giving him a “go on” gesture with his hoof.
“Yes, yes I have, as you can see down there.” He pointed a hoof down into his workshop where a large selection of pistons, wires and a large pile of both brass and steel of varying forms and sizes are scattered about on many different workstations. The ponies down there all bowed in respect towards the golden monarch after Cid has fully diverted the emperor’s attention to them.
“Good, good. Once the prototype is ready, do contact me. I wish to see the fruits of my designs and you’re engineering for myself, to see if everything is going to work according to plan.” He answered before once again turning around and making his way back out the door where a guard was waiting for him.
Cid nodded. “Of course, your highness. Leave everything to me. I shall get everything done in time, as promised.” He answered before turning back towards his workers.
“Alright, break time is over. You heard the emperor. Get the parts ready, assembled and organized. We have a magi-tech walker to build.” He commanded.
The entire workshop quickly sprang back to life as ponies from all different colors, genders and sizes returned to their stations.
Cid could easily do a lot of the work himself, but given the deadline he received meant that he had to hire a couple of more hooves to help out in order to get all the material and necessary parts done before the real fun could start.
The assembling a never before seen or heard of machine, which should easily give them the mechanical and technological edge they need despite their rather smaller army compared to the other Kingdoms bordering the Empire.
Enchanted crystal weapons and a powerful shield can only do so much, after all.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
“Ugh… is it just me or have the blizzards outside the shield always been so… discomforting?” A guardsmare complained as she trudges through the snow.
“Always has been, and always will be. Doesn’t matter if we are made of flesh or crystals.” Another guard replied as they escort a handful of others workers, geologists and miners through the snow infested tundra.
Their job was simple. Prospect the nearby mountains for ore and report back. Easier said then done. Especially in this weather which made a couple of them shiver despite their natural resistance.
“Remind me to go grab a coat the next time we are tasked to patrol the snowy fields. Even the visibility is poor.” The mare adds as she continues to feel to full brunt of the storm on her muzzle.
A colleague of hers sighs. “Yes, lieutenant. I’ll add to that to the list the next time we are deployed out here.” The guardstallion replied, not making it very clear if he was genuine or sarcastic with his response.
No matter, though, as he was still given a quick glare from the lieutenant before focusing back at the task at hoof. Unbeknownst to them, a pair our blue glowing eyes were watching them for some time. Quickly disappearing again whenever someone noticed.
Some of them started to murmur to themselves nervously
Some of the guards also noticed, including their lieutenant. Her right hoof never leaving the grip or pommel of her sword when she noticed something moved at the corner of her eye.
“You know, I wonder how the other parties are doing? Maybe one of them have already found a little nice cave to get out of this gosh darn storm? I really can’t see anything past my muzzle at this point.” Another guard wonders out loud at the far back, which was barely audible over the rushing winds and the crunching of snow beneath their hooves.
“And to think that the day started perfectly clear. Sometimes I envy those living in the south. ” The Lieutenant thought to herself as she pushed on.
“Is it just me or is the ground suddenly…” Somebody wondered before it quickly got worse, forcing everyone to hold and to look around themselves in both surprise and panic.
“What is happening all of the sudden?” The mare could hear someone shout as the rumbling slowly increased in intensity.
She was about to order for everybody to stay calm and lower themselves to the ground and wait the tremors out, only for her own thoughts to betray her as the ground underneath her suddenly collapsed, forcing her to go with it.
She didn’t even have the time to scream, but the comrades behind her did.
“Lieutenant!” The closest ones shouted as she simply braced herself for a long and perhaps painful fall.
Painful, yes, but thankfully not long as she soon found herself hitting the ground with a loud clang.
Crystal might be a much lighter material for armor in comparison to any metal-based gear, but that still didn’t mean that it was weightless either… or less painful.
“Ma’am, are you ok?” A guard from above asked as the snow and dust around her was still choking her out.
“Yes, yes, I… I am fine… Just… just see if you can get down here.” She shouted back in between coughs and being quite disoriented, not to mention feeling sore pretty much everywhere on her body.
“Quick, see if we can get down there and help Miss Shelephia!” She heard somebody call out.
She eventually opened her eyes to look around, only to see nothing but a cloud of soft ice and dirt still surrounding her, though the pain in both her chest and left foreleg were not making it any easier for her.
“Lieutenant, are you alright?” A guardstallion suddenly came up to her with both a concerned look and tone.
She looked up at the stud, giving him a look of surprise. “How did you manage to get down here so fast?” She asked the stallion despite the ever-increasing clip clops of hooves echoing from behind her.
The guard pointed a hoof at the direction where the echoes were coming from. “Well…” He began. ” The collapse of the snow and ice has also created a natural ramp for all of us to slide down here. Thankfully the hole isn’t too deep, otherwise this might not have been the case.” He replied before focusing back on her.
A couple of guards quickly moved up as well, offering to help the officer up onto her hooves, while also sharing their concerns with her.
She eventually accepted the help of one of her guards and hissed loudly to herself once she was assisted up back up on fours. Or rather, just the two of them, as her right foreleg was drabbed around the neck of a guard while her left was dangling off the ground, thanks to the possible injury it might have suffered.
“For buck’s sake. This whole ordeal has just been a disaster from start to finish. A possible broken hoof and a rib in the middle of the ice fields. Just brilliant.” Shelephia complained as she began to look around once more to finally determine where exactly they were at the moment.
The dirt and snow ice cloud in the beginning had finally subsided to allow some visibility of this new cave.
Everyone’s eyes immediately went wide at what they saw in front of them.
“What the… what in the gods' name are those?” One of the local miners shouted, backpedaling just a bit to hide himself behind the equally surprised guards and keeping himself as far away from that... that black equine-looking thing as possible.
The others behind him did the same, their eyes filled with both shock and fear at the same time.
They have certainly seen nothing like these before.
“Intruders, intruders! We have intruders!”
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Happy to see this back again, honestly I prefer this to your other fics.
The pure crack of the others kinda threw me off.
8862255
Agreed.
Thanks for the chapter.
Huh.... changelings out in the Frozen North?
Not something you see often i gotta tell ya
This, in my opinion, is your best story!
Also, more!
YAY, it's not dead, I love this story it's nice. Keep writing and don't stray from this amazing path you've chosen.
AW, that sucks! This is the only story that I truly like that you write. But keep up the good work nonetheless.
And here we are agin, it always such a pleasure.
8862284
Most likely Thorax.
And thus the holy emperor found potential allies and could found his own espionage network.
I wonder how the princesses will react. They wanted to add the Crystal Empire to Equestria as some sort of protectorate under the rulership of their niece.
And sending Twilight and her friends at a later point so that she could prove herself in one of Celestia's hidden trials on the road to Alicornhood.
Everything gone.
Awesome! This chapter was definitely worth the long wait. Is it wrong that I'm hoping that there actually are a few small skirmishes between Equestria and the Empire just so our favorite Emperor can prove just how powerful he and the army he's building is to Celestia and Luna?
i hope the next chapter doesnt take that long
Oh man, I am excited to see what happens next! Hopefully the next chapter comes out sooner than this one. Keep goin and stay golden^^
8862640
I love stories where Celestia's plans crumble...
I'm very glad that this story is back, it is my favorite of yours. The pure mindlessness of the zebrica main character got old fast for me, unlike this guy, still love him. Keep up the good work.
I'm thinking Changelings. Interesting.:D
Glad this got updated. One of my favorite stories by you, even if I never knew who the main character was or never picked up a single final fantasy game in my life. Don't get me wrong I love the Zebrica story, but Alexander's character starts to get annoying after a while for me. I end up liking people who are serious, but also have lighthearted and funny moments added in.
8862947
Me Too. :D I never really liked her. Luna is cuter and Cadance is much more suited for clop...because princess of love.
Twilight...just seemed like a marketing strategy to sell more toys.
8863417
I can... agree with that. Twilight the Alicorn is just... Twilight with wings and a horn. She's a bit of a wet noodle; doesn't have the "steel" that the other princesses have. I mean - yes, it was played for comedy, but - look at how she crumbled into depression when the School of Friendship was temporarily closed, only getting a bit of tin in her spine when STARLIGHT said, "Yo, book horse, MARE UP!"
*enter obligatory 'it's alive!' comment*
So they stumbled upon a changeling hive I hazard?
Nice chapter, good work.
moar please
8862947
I can already imagine Celestia in internal rage mode. But we will see. She has this kind of passive divination ability and with that she plays chess master. Stupid only if others can play this game as well.
I don't think Luna will be as pissed, if at all and Cadance is more happy that she is spared by the fate of being a ruler.
And from what we saw the citizens won't forgive Equestria any time soon. For them it all happened maybe 1000 years ago, but for the Crystal Ponies, who were frozen in time, it was like last tuesday that their families were slaughtered and enslaved by power hungry Equestrians.
Now, the real question is what Majitek Armor design is that? Is it the Reaper or the Predator?
8866201
You want to to feature all of his new moves?
Sooooo...changelings, or Umbra shadow poners then?
Matteus is moving along with his plans of development, in any event.
I imagine Celestia will just brush off Matteus' interrupting her plan of hoofing the Crystal Empire over to Cadance, and just wait it out until Matteus dies from old age...only to realise that he's pretty much an immortal just like she is. Won't that be a kick in the flank when she realises it
8866923
Even so, will the crystal ponies even accept Equestrian rule? Mateus could either have an air or successor at that point.
They will most likely resist. given how much more damage equestria intentionally or unintentionally did to them. Doing more harm then good, alongside their 1000 years banishment.
I Love seeing story coming back with an update. If you could, please give us more funny moments and changelings. Please?
8866227 IIRC he only got one or two new moves in NT.
I feel that these are the creatures we see in the comics.(Which I haven’t read.)
Great to see you back on this specific horse Navanastra.
Just sad you left us with such an intentional cliff-hanger, could they be changelings?
8863417
To me Twilight wasn't that BEFORE she got turned into alicorn.
8891354
I know right, this whole trope of becoming the princess of friendship and the argument that she kinda deserved her Ascension is just BS talk by the fans.
Go ask a Hasbro executive and he will tell you the truth. Also having the title of friendship is the most cheesiest title ever, she could have easily been dubbed the princess of magic, similar to her talent and element. But nope, we went with the dot, dot, dot, laughing on the floor, groaning or eye rolling route.
Also the concept of a friendship skull is stupid too. Why do you need a school to teach friendship?
8892043
I think for the same reason that there are Chef schools there's more to it than what the average person knows
So wait, is there a changling hive at the north... that makes some sense I suppose
Thera was the bat pony Mare he saved in the beginning and the other one (Ruby) was probably the maid Sombra nearly raped right? I remember somethng like that.
Was it Cadance being okay with it and Shining being the sour apple here?, I guess Cadance had the good chance to escape her fate that Celestia wanted to put her into, without probably asking her too.
Yep Celestia not getting what she wants could be a problem.
I so hope she isn't simply outtalk him/outsmart him in their talk, it would be more fun to see him being either equally to her or better if she thinks she can simply talk him into something else.
Oh I would so like it if Matheus would either take Chrysalis as some sort of slave or even make a pact with her or something like that.