From Eberron to Equestria

by makota

Day 1 with Coop

Twilight yawned as she got up and raised the sun for the day. Pouring over Violet's notes she remembered about her guests. Twilight contemplated what to do about her guests in the meantime. Ultimately deciding Twilight figured it might be nice if she at least invited them to join her for breakfast. Upon leaving her room Twilight is immediately joined by Violet.

"Good morning your majesty. I have your itinerary for today all ready." Violet levitated a stack of papers to Twilight.

"Thank you Violet." Twilight levitated the itinerary into view looking at it she noticed that her usually very tight schedule had a few gaps in it particularly towards the start and end. "What is this?"

"I have heard the news about your unusual guests and figured you would want some time to monitor them yourself."

Twilight chuckled "you know me so well Violet."

"I will take that as the highest of compliments." Violet bowed to the princess. "If you will excuse me I have other duties to attend to." with that Violet made her way down a separate hall.

Approaching the room that she left Richard in Twilight looked to the guard. "How has our guest been?"

"There has not been a single noise since you left, princess Twilight." Twilight nodded before knocking on the door. After half a minute of silence Twilight opened the door, inside she found Book lying upon the bed but no sign of Richard. Book pushed up into a sitting position disturbed by Twilight's entrance. His eyes glowed for a second as he looked to the nearby door to the washroom. The door opening on its own revealed Richard as he made his way back into the room. Richard stopped as he noticed the new figure in the room.

"Oh good morning your majesty. What do I owe this pleasure of seeing you this morning?"

Twilight smiled. "Good morning to you too Richard. I wished to invite you and Coop to join me for breakfast."

Richard Chuckled. "I would be more than happy to join you, as for Coop we will have to see if he is awake as he does tend to sleep in." Twilight nodded then led the way out of the room. As they approached the room with Coop in it Twilight posed the same question to the guard.

"How has our guest been?" The guard looked up at Twilight, his eyes seemed worried.

"Well actually Princess, he put in some unusual request."

"Unusual?" Both Twilight and Richard said at the same time.

"Perhaps it is better for you to see for yourself." Twilight nodded before entering the room. Inside was Coop sitting at a desk, with odd and end parts in the immediate area around him. A few objects were recognizable: a compass from a ship, the handles from the bathroom shower, a miniature sundial, a map of Equestria, and several books from the library that ranged from economics to beastly guides. Other objects were not as recognizable as they had been completely dismantled. Whatever he was working on now was hard to see as he was currently hunched over it.

"Coop what is going on?" Richard asked. As Coop turned his head Twilight noticed on top of it was one of the toy replicas of her own crown that they gave to foals whose parents were there on business though Coop had added some sort of glowing object to the top of it. The grin on his face was the next thing Twilight noticed as Coop quickly stood and turned around there was an object in his hand. The moment something came shooting out of it Twilight reacted quickly and put up a shield. After a few seconds Twilight opened her eyes to see that what had come out of the strange object was a small stream of water like you would get from a spray bottle. Coop himself was busy manically ranting in some foreign language. Twilight adjusted her shield to where it was now collecting the water instead of letting it hit the floor.

Richard sighed. "Coop if you're going to declare a prank war and subsequent victory you should at least do it in a language they know."

Coop stopped his ranting as he seemed to be dumb struck by the logic of what Richard was saying "right Elvin, I forgot." In Coops dumb struck moment Book had leapt off a nearby desk snatching the crown from Coops head and severing a line that lead from it to the object in his hand causing its water to slowly stop.

Twilight raised an eyebrow. "Prank war huh?" Moving the water she was holding over Coops head Twilight continued. "You know I have two friends who would enjoy such a thing." Twilight then dropped water allowing it to thoroughly soak Coop. "But I haven't had as much patience for such things as they do. Now come along, you're joining us for breakfast." Twilight stated, turning around to leave.

"Yea sure give me a second." Coops said looking at his now soaked clothing.

As Twilight got to the door she then heard Richard speak up. "Umm your majesty, you may want to cover your ears."

As Twilight opened the door she saw Book scramble out of the room, turning back she saw Coop with some device strapped to his five fingered hand. Looking around she could no longer find Richard so she decided it might be best to do as suggested and used her magic to create a soundproof shield around her. Coop raised his hand out in front of him and the strange device started to light up as he pressed two of his fingers together. There was a quick motion from his hand and a loud boom and an extreme amount of air pressure that centered on him came blasting out. The force and volume that Twilight was unprepared for was almost enough to shatter her quick shield. Twilight lowered her shield now looking at a mostly dry Coop. Twilight knew the technique that he had used to dry himself, it was something that a lot of military unicorns used. a low energy telekinetic blast used to displace the water from their fur. It took exceptional control to use it in a successive way and even more to not hurt yourself. Looking around the previously organized room there were objects everywhere and several of the furniture around the room had been upturned. Twilight was shocked, if what he considered a low energy did this much damage she would hate to see what he could do if wanted to destroy things. Twilight suddenly found herself surrounded by a herd of guards.

"Are you okay Princess."

Twilight shook her head to clear it. "Yes Sargent I am fine. Our guest here was simply drying off." There were a few confused looks among the guards but most of the unicorns had a look of shock, understanding what had happened. As the guards pulled out of the room Twilight heard murmurs about how they were sure that all of Canterlot heard the boom.

Twilight then turned to Coop having noticed that he had not moved from his spot and had been simply looking himself over "I must ask that you refrain from doing that unless you can show more restraint."

Coop looked at Twilight confused. "What?" He suddenly yelled.

"I am sorry your majesty this is not the first time he has done this and I am afraid that one of the side effects is that he is going to be deafened for a while." Richard now standing in the doorway produced that magic hand from before that grabbed Coop's shirt. "I suggest we just move for now as any complaint right now will not be heard." Twilight nodded walking behind Richard being followed by Coop who was being dragged by a magic hand. On their way to breakfast Twilight looked back at Coop who most likely was still deaf as he was currently trying to dig something out of his ear.

"Tell me is Coop always so…" Twilight paused searching for the right word but Richard seemed to understand what she was going for.

"Silly, nonsensical, crazy, reckless, foolish, brainless, ludicrous." Twilight could swear that she heard a fondness in his voice grow with every word as he talked but it suddenly disappeared. "Yes but not usually to this extent, I guess we all grieve in our own way." Before Twilight could dig further Richard stopped in his tracks. "But that's a different story best told another time perhaps because it appears we have reached our destination."

Twilight looked ahead to see the dining hall doors already open.. "indeed we have." Twilight entered the dining hall first and took her usual seat, next to her sat Coop and on the other side of him was Richard. "Please order anything you would like." As the maid came by to take their order Twilight ordered her normal breakfast. As the maid reached the now hearing repaired Coop his order was simple.

"Coffee."

"Food too Coop." Richard's replay was so quick and automatic that it made Twilight think this may have been a common occurrence.

"And meat."

"Coop." Richard's voice sounded a little annoyed.

"Actually that is a fine choice, we get many dignitaries that eat meat so we have a very capable staff of cooks." Twilight interrupted. She then turned to Coop. "Just let them know how you like it prepared and they will make it for you." Coop nodded, turning to the maid and started to explain the details of his order.

"Your majesty, you expressed an interest in my magic before, perhaps now might be a good time to show you one of my tricks." Twilight looked at Richard questioningly.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes." Twilight nodded the go ahead for Richard. Book quickly jumped up onto the counter, dropping the book from last night on the table and Flipping it open. Richard began muttering and making some simple hand movements. Book who was still sitting on the table nearby, eye's began to glow. After a few seconds of this Richard gave one final wave of his hand over the spot in front of him and revealed a plate of food that hadn't been there before.

Twilight was stuck by curiosity. "Was that some special form of teleportation?"

Richard shook his head. "No it is not, I merely created the food from magic." As the maid moved over to Richard he smiled. "Nothing for me as I have food now but if you could get a piece of smoked salmon for Book I'm sure he would appreciate it." The cat meows loudly as if to agree.

"That is fascinating." Twilight then turned to Coop. "And are you able to perform similar feats of magic as well?"

Coop shook his head. "Not quite. While ultimately similar the feats I perform are powered through magic but performed through science. I am not gifted in the area of magic."

Now that had Twilight's interest. "And your ability to change shape at will is that through science as well."

Coop shook his head "Well no and yes your majesty, it is an innate magic that belongs to the biology of my species known as changelings." Coop paused for a second seemingly choosing his words. "If you would like a demonstration of my abilities I must suggest we do so in a more appropriate venue as much of my arsenal is aggressive in nature."

Twilight couldn't agree more after that small display he put on in the room. "That is interesting we also have a native species here in Equestria that is able to change form at will also known as changelings."

"That is interesting, tell me are your changelings also looked down upon with suspicion and distrust?"

Twilight could smile at this. "Not anymore, they used to be but since king Thorax took over they have made great strides for Equestria and are now seen as trusted allies."

"Then I hope that my world may be as progressive as yours one day."

"Is that why you stay in that form rather than your natural one, because your kind is viewed with suspicion?"

"It is, Princess. Though it could be argued that this is a natural form for me because it is one that I choose and is of my own design."

Twilight nodded. "That does have a nice sound to it and while we do encourage our changelings to be happy with how they are born I may just pass your words onto them."

Coop smiled. "You honor me princess." Soon enough their food had arrived. Twilight's had been her normal breakfast of a small coffee, a daisy sandwich, and a few breakfast scones. Coop's coffee was black as he refused any milk or sugar and the meat that he had requested and prepared to his directions came out exquisite looking, apparently even the sides and garnish were in his directions making Twilight think he may have some noble roots. Richard, who had already had his food, had been lightly picking at it during their conversation and Book's smoked salmon had been placed on a plate on the table at Richard's request.

"So your majesty, tell me what are your plans for the day."

"Oh nothing too exciting. I just have a few noble requests to hear out, a budget meeting and a trade deal to attend."

Richard looked up at the princess as his food and plate both disappeared in a quick plume of smoke. "Then may I make a simple request. Please bring Coop along."

"What?"

"WHAT!?"

Both Twilight and Coops spoke at the same time though Coops had been a bit more vocal.

"Allow me to explain. Coop is an excellent statistician but he needs more experience in how to make deals with others in a less aggressive way."

Twilight smiled as it seemed Coop needed a friendship lesson, something she was an expert in. "If Coop needs such teachings then I would be more than delighted to assist."

"WHAT!" Coop's annoyance seemed to increase as he stood up and stared at Richard. "Look I do things the same way as my … as the previous head did and it has always worked."

Richard calmly looked at Coop. "While those ruthless tactics work in Sharn, if you plan to make a name for yourself outside the city you will learn how to at least fake kindness."

Coop stared at Richard for a long time, obvious annoyance written all over his face. "Fine." Coop sat back down accepting defeat.

"Good now if either of you need me I will be in my room." Richard stood up and left with Book by his side.

Twilight herself stood up heading out to the throne room being followed by Coop. "Tell me Coop if you are so opposed to the idea then why were you so willing to admit defeat.

Coop sighed. "As much as I hate to admit it, he is right and His advice is always sound."

"So you don't mind listening to him?"

Coop smiled "not at all in fact he actually used to be the adviser to my…" Coop's smile disappeared. "... to the previous guild head."

Twilight could tell by how his face suddenly changed that there was something painful in that topic so she decided it was best not to press the issue. Other than a few strange looks as Coop entered the throne room with her the first noblepony meeting went just fine. Coop kept staring at them but the noblepony despite being a little uncomfortable with the attention managed to get through their meeting without saying anything. The second meeting went similarly though Coop proved to be a bit bigger of a distraction. At some point Coop had gotten bored and started spinning around in his seat. At one point Coop was upside down in the chair, Twilight could only just barely see him out of the corner of her eye but it was pretty impressive how smooth his motion was and how he had perfectly balanced himself in a chair that was right side up. Twilight watched as Coop covertly produced a small object about the size of a bit from that bag of his and placed it upon the bottom of his chair. Twilight had to keep herself from chuckling at the look upon the noblepony's face as Coop began to levitate into the air and spin in a manner akin to discord. Soon Twilight noticed that the noblepony had stopped to stare at Coop and Twilight knew she would have to put a stop to it.

Clearing her throat to get both of their attention. "I'm afraid Coop that isn't how we do things here in Equestria and I'm going to have to ask you to tone down the theatrics for now."

"Fine." Coop reached up and pulled the object off of the chair causing both him and the chair to suddenly fall. Coop landed on his feet and caught the chair with his three fingered hand to stop it from falling on him before placing it back down to sit on, Twilight was sure that he practiced that move with how smoothly he was able to pull it off.

After urging the noblepony to continue, the meeting was quickly wrapped up and Twilight had some time before the next one. "So how was your first taste of Equestrian politics?"

Coop laughed. "You call that politics?" Coop shook his head. "Your first meeting wanted to build a low cost public pool to help their community beat the heat. The second wanted to build a farm to help feed and employ a nearby struggling village." Twilight felt proud that her little ponies were looking out for each other. "There was no subterfuge, no life or death situations. Hell no death or death situations."

"Death or death?" Twilight questioned, sounding worried.

"Yea death or death, make choice A and people on side B will die or make choice B and people on side A will die."

Twilight looked him in the face with as much seriousness that she could muster. "Then you go with option C and save both sides."

Coop tried to match her serious stare but ended up just shrugging it off. "So what next princess?"

Twilight pulled out her Schedule, checking it really fast. “After a quick break it's a budget meeting with the Mayor of Manehattan.” Twilight enjoyed her break, having some water and a light snack brought to the two of them while they relaxed in the throne room before the next meeting. Soon enough there was a knock at the doors announcing that the next appointment arrived.

“Announcing Mayor Longington of Manehattan.” Announced one of the guards standing outside the door as it was opened.

Longington walked in bowing before the Princess. “Good Afternoon Princess Twilight...and Guest?” He looked slightly confused as he laid eyes on Coop.

“Coop here is a temporary guest that is learning some diplomacy just act like he isn't here.” Twilight had informed him

Longington nodded. “Yes your majesty, I do hope to not take up too much of your time. You see, one of the main roads into Manehattan has seen extensive use due to a higher than normal amount of tourists seen these last few years. My accountants have figured out that a small thirteen percent increase to the toll to use the road would help fix the road while keeping the toll at an affordable price.” Longington gave his best smile to the princess that lasted until Coop spoke.

“He’s lying.” Twilight and Longington turned to Coop in shock.

“I would never lie in the presence…”

“He is definitely trying to hide something.”

Longington looked over Coop in Anger. “I am a very respectful individual but you are calling my character into question, I can tell you are not a native to Equestria so how would you know that I am lying.”

“When you lie your left ear twitches and you lift your right hind leg just a couple of centimeters off of the ground. It was hard to find at first but you have a similar tells to another race from my world.” He stared at Longington for a while before Twilight interrupted them.

“Does his statement hold any truth Longington?” Twilight gained the mayor's attention. Under the princesses stares he seemed to wilt.

Removing his hat the Mayor relented. "I didn't mean to deceive you Princess. Just before I arrived at the throne room doors I had received a message from my team that we could do the Job for only a seven percent increase but I had practiced my speech for thirteen percent. I didn't want to stumble on my words so I decided to keep with the original.” He bowed before the Princess. “I am sorry for lying.”

“I see, well Longington in light of this news I would like to give you an extra day please go over your notes extensively and we will pick this back up tomorrow.”

“Thank you for understanding your majesty.” Longington spoke as he backed out of the throne room while bowing.

Twilight looked to Coop confused. “How did you learn to read if somepony is lying so well.”

Coop grabbed the upper arm on the left side. ”I was taught a lesson about figuring out what the truth is at a very young age.”

As Twilight watched him shake slightly she could only guess at how much pain was caused by whatever he was remembering. "Would you like to talk about it?"

Coop looked to Twilight, the memory seemingly gone as he smiled. "I appreciate what you're trying to do but in the end things turned out better, so there is no need." Twilight could see something about it was still hurting him but if he didn't trust her then there was nothing she could do until that changed.

Twilight looked to the clock nearby seeing it was nearly time for the trade deal. “Now Coop this trade deal is with the minotaurs from the eastern badlands. They are a known aggressive species. Please don't do anything rash that could cause a fight.”

Coop silently nodded as assistants started bringing a table with a map that they would need to discuss trade routes as well as chairs for the minotaurs. After everything was set up Twilight welcomed the minotaurs as they entered the throne room.

“Good afternoon. Nuofen Stonestep, Kuomin Stoutspeaker, and Chief Minkus Bearhorns.” Twilight knew all of them by name not just because it was on her notes but also this was not the first meeting with them for this matter. In fact this was the fourth meeting with them, the first three having been pretty much failures with little progress made. “Now where did we leave off?” Twilight asked knowing that this particular group was not the type to beat around the bush with pleasantries.

“The beginning.” Stoutspeaker grunted.

“Of course.” Twilight stated. She of course knew that but she had hoped that some of what they had talked about last time had time to sink in on how good it was and would have been accepted. Twilight motioned to the map as they all gathered around it. “So as you know the stone that is from the minotaur’s quarry is in high demand right now in Equestria, in trade we shall be sending twenty crates of crops that are hard to grow in the southern badlands."

Minkus nodded with a grunt of approval.

Twilight took this as a sign to continue. "Now I've taken some liberties to plot out the most optimal route for this trade line." Twilight lit up her horn and started to draw a line on the map. The line traced the proposed route but as it closed in on the badlands Stonestep slammed his fist down on the table.

“That land belongs to the dragons. Minotaurs will go nowhere near dragon land.” Stoutspeaker grunted.

Twilight sighed. “We have been over this, the dragons are allies of ours and moving through their territory would prove to increase the safety and speed of this trade.”

Stonestep used his finger to draw their own route as Stoutspeaker spoke up again. “This route better, it allows Minotaurs to better protect their goods from greedy dragons.”

Twilight took a deep breath and calmed herself preparing for another meeting of nothing productive happening as this was the same topic that killed the last three meetings with the Minotaurs rejecting all routes that wasn't the one they suggested every time. “I understand your hesitation and wanting to use the route your tribe knows but that route will take two weeks longer than most other routes.”

“Minotaurs know badlands best.” Stoutspeaker interrupted. This conversation went on for two more hours of back and forth with Twilight trying to persuade the Minotaurs into changing the route. “Pony knows nothing of Minotaur way.” Stoutspeaker Raised her voice slightly.

Finally Coop had had enough. “And you Minotaurs know nothing at all.” Stoutspeaker turned to Coop.

“What would you know, you scrawny weakling.” She angrily huffed.

Coop's annoyance seemed to rise as did his stature, his body suddenly growing much larger fur starting to sprout on any exposed part of his body until he was two full heads taller than any of the Minotaurs in the room. Coop himself had become a Minotuar himself though like with Richard he was much more feral looking than the average Equestrian Minotaur. Stoutspeaker now looking up in awe at the new form before her. “I know that the value of the stone you are trading is only valued at a quarter of what the Princess is offering to you.” Stoutspeaker tried to interrupt but Coop had literally Shut her up but closinging his three fingered armored hand around her snout. “I also know that the route you are suggesting is so horribly unguarded that after the first Gynosphinx or Nightwalker attack you will lose everything.”

Stoutspeaker finally having recovered from having her muzzle clamped freed herself before shouting. “I know not you but I show you that we Minotaur are strongest tribe. As Stoutspeaker and Stonestep both seemed to be getting ready to charge Coop, Coop himself had reached back into his bag that seemed to be where he kept his magical devices. Twilight knew she was going to have to stop this before somepony got hurt.

“ENOUGH!” Twilight had resorted to her last resort and used the royal canterlot voice to get all eyes on her. “There will be no fighting inside the royal palace. Coop you are too back down now!” Twilight lit up her horn and forcibly moved Coop away to stand behind her. Stoutspeaker and Stonestep seemed ready to fight still but Chief Bearhorns stepped forward and stopped them by placing each hand on one of their shoulders.

“The Princess is correct.” Chief Bearhorns spoke which had surprised Twilight as he hadn't spoken in any of the previous meetings. The other two Minotaurs stepped back giving him space to speak his piece. “Princess we do things your way.”

It took Twilight a moment to realize that he was talking about the trade route leaving her confused. “What made you change your mind?”

“We Minotuar have old tradition of following the strong.” the Chief spoke. “Make us hard headed sometimes but show of strength needed for trust.” The chieftain turned and led his two companions out of the room leaving a bewildered Twilight.

Twilight breathed a sigh of relief before turning and seeing a grinning Coop. “You knew…How?”

Coop shrugged “A Minotaur is a Minotaur no matter where you are apparently.”

Twilight studied Coop, finding a new admiration for his ability to read anypony. “You may have helped this time but I will find a way to teach you the magic of friendship.”

“Whatever you say Princess.” Coop spoke as the two of them made their way out of the throne room. After walking for a little while Twilight noticed Coop no longer next to her looking back down the hall a little ways she found him leaning against the wall asleep. As Coop started to fall, Twilight prepared to catch him before he suddenly stopped and lightly floated off the ground a little. Looking the other way she saw Richard and book at the end of the Hall

“Ah I see Coop's sleepless night finally caught up to him.” Coop's unconscious body floated over to Richard where it hovered a couple of feet off the ground. “I believe we should perhaps put him to bed.” Twilight nodded before walking with Richard to Coop's room.

“Tell me Richard, why is Coop grieving?” Twilight asked. Twilight wanted to respect his privacy but had hopes that maybe helping Coop with his Grief could lead to a friendship lesson.

Richard hummed to himself for a moment as Coop floated over into his bed a magic hand like before appeared moving the covers up over him. “Coop has only recently become the acting head of his guild. The previous Guild head had been bugging him about taking over for the last few years. He always declined, preferring his life as an Artificer for hire; he only recently accepted temporarily until he can find a suitable replacement after the last guild head was murdered…” Richard turned and headed out of the room with Twilight. ”...but he is having trouble finding someone who can lead the same way that his mother had.”

Comments

[Alzrius]

Forgive the nitpick, but this should have the Dungeons & Dragons tag, and probably the Crossover tag too.

[makota]

11583874
That is a good Idea that I didn't think about I'll add them