The Empress
The Sands burn vibrantly,
The colors infinitely changing,
The Dune’s spurring up clouds of time,
The Ancient Worms,
That hide in the deep,
Strike when the weary and weak fall asleep,
The spices hidden beneath the rock,
Dug up in great sums,
Are illegal but ever so good.
The Diamonds,
So few but yet so bright,
Are the lust and thirst of the Empress,
Rarity Ruler of the Equestria,
And the sands that always turn the tide.
* Celestia, Leader of the Emerald Sidewinders
The sun burned vibrantly on the hot sands. Anything that could survive in this forsaken land was most surely deep beneath it or already dead. Towering spires of limestone dotted the landscape seeing the world infinitely change over the course of many millennia. In the center of this great desert is the oasis town of Canterlot. Created long ago by an ancient king it was one of the few cities for many miles around. Canterlot was practically the same as any large city in the Sea of Sand it had a market dealing in many goods from green scorpion antidote to scrolls. The many ponies that lived in Canterlot were happy and managed but they were always in fear because the city lay in the shadow of Empress Rarity’s castle.
Its black marble was always cool to the hoof and kept the Empress happy during the middle of the day, but the inside of the castle was completely dark save for the torches that lit the halls. Rarity was part of an ancient blood line of kings and queens and so that meant her rule was firm. But, she felt her pony subjects did not like nor respect her so her regime was fierce.
She sat in her throne room that one sunny day. Even though the marble was cool she still felt hot. She was dressed herself in bright red with little white pearls and formal black shoes. A guard came up to her clad in black and with a sharpened horn.
“Your majesty” the guard said. “Yes?” Rarity responded after being lost in thought.
“We have captured a Pegasus dealing in illegal spices just outside the city gates. Shall we bring him forward to you, your grace?” the guard responded. Rarity pondered a little and stroked her chin.
“Yes, anyone who deals in spices must be dealt with. Bring him forward to me immediately” she said with assurance.
“Yes your majesty” the guard spoke before bowing and going out the great doors. Some chatter happened behind the walls before the sound of chains could be heard. Two guards brought an orange Pegasus shackled in chains forward to Rarity. The Pegasus was very dirty and dressed in rags he looked extremely poor. But, Rarity knew this was simply a trick as to have mercy on the ragged pony who was in fact a spy.
“They keep trying to fool me. How would a poor pony dressed in such rags be able to deal in the spice market?" Rarity thought. Well what exactly are these spices? Well I guess they need some explanation now in days. The spices that are spoken of are many in variety from common Quirtz to the very rare ore called Juniper’s Flower. The spices are used in everything from being consumed with drastic hallucinating affects to use as gunpowder when it is most destructive. Spices fetch very good prices on the black market and Rarity has been trying to crack down on the illegal smugglers and dealers, but never can get an exact hold and now there is one before her.
“So why do you dare tread your hooves outside this city while holding illegal spice?” Rarity said loudly. The Pegasus simply looked at his feet and stayed quiet. Rarity huffed slightly and cleared her throat again.
“WHY WERE YOU DEALING ILLEGAL SPICE OUTSIDE THE WALLS OF THE CITY!” she yelled. The Pegasus again stayed quiet. Rarity got up from throne and marched forward to the Pegasus.
“Hold up his face” she said to her guards. The guards lifted the Pegasus’s head so his eyes looked directly at Rarity’s.
“Now why were you dealing in illegal spice?” she asked again but quieter. The Pegasus looked out her disgruntled and uncomfortable until he finally spoke.
“My name is Fire Boulder and I was dealing because I hate your tyrannical rule and I do as I wish” the Pegasus said with anger.
“Ah there’s your voice it sounds wonderful” Rarity cooed as she put a hoof to the Pegasus’s cheek, “Now why would you upset me by dealing in illegal spice hm?”
“Because you are dead to your ponies, we hate you with ferocity of a thousand burning hooves, and you will burn in HELL!” he screamed as he spat at Rarity’s face. The guards tightened their grip on Fire Boulder with a slightly surprised look. Rarity took a handkerchief from the table next to her throne and wiped her face. Rarity let out a simple sigh and closed her eyes. She then put her face right in front of Fire Boulder’s.
“Oh my dear Fire Boulder why would you spit in my face? I am only trying to help you and then you do these embarrassing things and upset me. But, I guess this is what you want, you don’t want me to help set you free. So be it guards take him to the brandishing room maybe then he will learn to show some respect” Rarity commanded. Even if Fire Boulder did not spit at Rarity he would still have been thrown in the dungeon for defying Imperial Law. Poor, Fire Boulder he was in for a world of pain. Before being thrown in the dungeon Fire Boulder would be taken to the torture room. He would be held in place by the two guards while a black smith would prepare a hot branding iron. The guards would raise Fire Boulder’s flank and the branding iron would be pushed rather violently on their flank. After that Fire Boulder would be nearly drowned in a pool of water to cool the branding which was the family crest of Rarity. Then he was tossed in the dungeon to rot for the rest of his life. Rarity returned to her throne and scratched her chin.
“Hmm he did break the law yet he was kind of cute” she thought to herself. She looked out one of the stained glass windows and looked at the sun’s beautifully cast rays. She then looked down at the city and the ponies dealing in goods and other services. Rarity stood stalwart because she knew her right to rule was deep and unbreakable.