Kingdoms (reboot)

Oreo trotted from her now empty kingdom to the Crystal Empire. Her dress was torn and wet while she had cuts on her. Her tiara was broken but she wore it with pride. Hoping that the rulers would let her stay there, or at least another kingdom would give her a new home. She trotted into the castle. She almost trotted past the room with the two foals, her also being one, and not knowing what was going on she trotted inside.
 "Hello, I'm Or-"
She stared at the at the frighten foals and the maid who was on her face. She got out her knife carved out of wood. Her father made it for her the night before the rebels came. She looked at them with fear in her own eyes. She had her parents and her kingdom die, and she would never wish that to happen to her worst enemy!

Oreo ran to the window and looked down at the mare. Another one, another corpse that will make her have a horrid nightmare. She looked back to the other foals, with a tear in her eye. She wiped it off and put her knife away.
"That was... Something... Anyways, my name's Oreo."

She smiled trying to calm everything down. Oreo wanted nothing more then a home.

Calla heard a high-pitched shriek from within the castle, and her thoughts immediately went to Nikki.

"Guards!" she called loudly. "Go!"

The stallions standing guard immediately ran inside, where they found three foals, one wild-eyed and pointing a sword out the window, and the others slightly spooked. Ignoring the others, they went to their mistress and carefully extracted her from her spot on the window.

"What's going on, Princess?" the smaller one asked. "Are you hurt?"

Silent, she pleaded with the others to help as she pointed out the window to the dying maid.

Vassago was not in the room with Nikki. He was preparing. He knew the assassin would come, he also knew Nikki would survive. Because it was all a part of the job.

He was outside, with the maid.

"Its a good thing that Oreo came when she did. Isn't it?" He sat down. "Normally, I would let you off scott free, But unluckily for you, there is nothing to say what I do with you after the deed is done."

Vassago's horn glowed. "Enjoy the ride."


Thousands of magical links connected Vassago to the would-be-assassin.

And then it began. Vassago used everything, from this world and beyond. The mare let out a blood-curdling scream as he magically destroyed her mind. For every event that he wished he could have stopped, for every single friend he could have had, for Nikki, who must hate him, for Ozy, who can't get rid of him. Most of all, he did it for his Master, who he couldn't betray, no matter how much he wanted to.

When the guards came to retrieve the maid, she was nothing but a gibbering pile of sobbing, bleeding flesh on the floor.



Vassago stared up at the window where Nikki was standing sadly as the guards ran past him to the maid.

"What a load of nonsense." He said as he started to walk back into the castle. "I'm such an idiot. My Master must be laughing his damn plot off."


OzyManedias looked about, confused. "What's wrong?" He stopped a guard. "Status report." He ordered.

The guard saluted smartly. "Somepony has made an attempt at the life of Princess Nikki Hooves."

OzyManedias normally bright expression became cold. "How convenient. I am assuming it was unsuccessful?"

The guard nodded.

"Good. I should like to talk to this 'assassin' right away." OzyManedias marched down the hallway.

"What happened?" Calla demanded, standing next to Ozy, her eyes blazing in much the same way as her daughter.

"A servant made an attempt on the life of the Princess," the guard repeated.

A very unladylike word escaped her muzzle as she ran to the nursery to find her child in shock, sadly looking out the window as two other foals--one she recognized as the very Vassago they had been speaking of before--stared at her.


"Nikki!" she cried, snatching her child from the window and holding her tightly to her chest. The filly had finally started to sob, holding onto her mother and attempting to speak clearly, but failing abysmally.

Calla stared at Vassago, her smoldering gold eyes blazing with fury and clarity.

"We demand that thou explainest this for us," she said sternly.

Vassago stared blankly at the floor. "A maid came inside, took a sword, and tried to kill the Princess. A mare came in, causing the assassin to leap from that window." He pointed to the smashed window.

OzyManedias III sighed thoughtfully. "Your daughter is safe, that is what is important. But this brings us to another question."

He glanced at the princess. "Who would want to kill the princess of the crystal empire."

"One who wanted to ensure the Empire had no heir," Calla said darkly. She turned to the guard next to her and gave a few orders.

"Escort Vassago and Lord OzyMendias out to Queen Torna's yurt. Take the filly with them, and send for Emperor Brawny. We must speak alone with our daughter and husband."

"Yes, your highness," the guard said, bowing out and gesturing for the pair to follow.

"Add extra patrols on the edges of the castle," she instructed a second. "Nopony gets in or out after the Lord and his heir."

Oreo silently followed the guard and wondered if the kingdom would let her stay or if the assassin had caused so much of a ruckus that she was to stay in the Everfree with the horrid creatures who lived there. She didn't want to think but the horrid memories of watching her parents and others deaths kept on replaying in her mind. She could've helped, she could still be in her kingdom with her parents. Oreo could not  contain it any longer, silently tears glided down her face. She said nothing as the memories of her failure kept replaying in her mind.

Brawny Hooves was escorted to his daughter's room to find his wife holding Nikki while she cried. Something bad must have happened. Brawny can't seem to leave for five minutes without something bad happening.

"What happened here to my wife and child?!"

"One of your servants attempted to assassinate your daughter, Emperor Hooves."

"Where are they?! Who did it?! I'll rip their heads off myself if I have to!!!" Brawny's attention was drawn by another filly he hadn't seen before. He looked down to her, and asked. "Who are you, and what are you doing in my palace? Don't try to anger me, child. I'm not in the mood, so be honest."

"I-I'm Princess Oreo. Emperor Hooves, from the fallen kingdom of Eris. There were rebels, I survived and escaped, but not without seeing the grusome death of my parents... I came here to see if I could stay or if you could send me to a neighboring kingdom. I could leave and go back to the Everfree if that is your wish. I saw the room with two other foals and thought they could direct me to you or somepony else. All I saw was the maid rushing out of the window and then on the ground. Then guards came in then so did the queen. I-I'm sorry for intruding."
She shuttered in fear of the fact that she could probably get a death sentence. The tears started streaming down her face, some getting in her wounds. It hurt, but she stood strong. Her tiara almost slipping off her head. She didn't want to stay one more night with timberwolves trying to get her.

Brawny Hooves looked at the filly named Oreo crying. She had come from a fallen kingdom and saw her parents die? And she had lived in the Everfree? Wow, this kid had a hard knock life. Brawny couldn't relate, but he could sympathize. He took Oreo out of the room, letting the other ponies deal with Nikki and Calla.

"You all handle yourselves in there. Let me take care of the stray filly." Brawny got down on his knee and went to eye level with Oreo. "Well, I could let you stay at our palace until we found somepony worthy and willing to take you in as their own. However, if you'd like to stay here in the Crystal Empire, I have to ask my wife and daughter what they think. I've always had sort of a soft spot for foals." Brawny handed Oreo over to one of his royal guards. "Watch over the filly until Calla or I come back." The guard saluted, and Brawny went back into Nikki's bedroom, where all the ruckus started.

As the Emperor left and shut the door the filly jumped up and down and exclaimed in happiness.
"This is wonderful! Though I may be in another, thy kingdom shall live on through me!"
How excited this little filly was made her forget how hungry she was. Her stomach growled and she giggled at it. Oreo copied the noise.
"Groggle!" 
Oreo almost fell over laughing, she was acting like a normal, yet strange, filly again. She was so humored in her own body that it was cute. Oreo heard the guard chuckle a little and continued to laugh as her stomach growled again making her laugh a little harder.

The guardpony chuckled a bit at the little filly imitating her stomach noises. How adorable. After what just happened, he could use something sweet and innocent like her to brighten his day. He led Oreo to the royal kitchen and showed her to a beautiful and deliciously prepared chocolate cake. He cut a slice of it and handed it to Oreo.

"Hungry?"

"Brawny," Calla said, her voice cracking with fear as she reached out a hoof for her husband. "We... We can't believe it. Our dear Nikki... Who would stoop so low as to attempt to murder a helpless filly?"

Nikki muttered something indignantly about not being helpless, but her words went unheard, as they had been uttered into Calla's mane and therefore rendered incomprehensible.

"Oh, husband mine, We do not know what to do..." Calla said, forlorn. "Who would be so evil as to attempt such a thing?"

Suddenly, the answer reached her. Her eyes dulled as she realized exactly who would do such a thing.

"No... Even he wouldn't... A filly... Would Honorius attempt such a thing?"

Brawny Hooves looked at his wife and his daughter. Why would anypony attempt an assassination on a small filly? He had no idea who could or would attempt such a thing. All he knew was he'd destroy the pony responsible for it. There was a good chance it could be Honorius. But it could be anypony.

"I don't know, Calla. He seems like he'd attempt such a thing. But it could really be anypony. It's too soon to start pointing hooves. But we need to be careful, and make sure none of us are at risk." Brawny hated to see this day come. Where he needed to keep watchful eyes on everypony in his Empire. He prayed to Chrysanthus that he wouldn't become too paranoid and end up hurting anypony.


Spell Tome had just finished her preparations for the festival that was happening at the Crystal Empire. Since she had no means of travel, at least none that were fast, she used her magic to teleport next to her Queen and marefriend, Bithia. She was dazed after concentrating so hard to travel so far, but she liked being next to Bithia. She was a bit rough around the edges, and a little violent for Spell Tome's tastes, but she had a real soft side that seemed to come out when Spell was around.

"Sorry I'm late, Bithia. I had to do my mane just right for you." Spell wasn't wearing anything fancy, because she knew of Argonese festivals, and knew they didn't require high class to attend

Queen Bithia had been outside when she heard the shrill shriek of the assassin. This startled her, and she ran back inside the Palace.

'What just happened?" She asked to one of the guards.

"An assassin tried to claim the life of The Princess," he said, bluntly as always.

"Do they know who hired this assassin?"

"No."

Just great. These kinds of situations usually cause ponies to point hooves at Ares, as they have a proud reputation of heartlessness when it comes to means of war. The truth was that Ares rarely hires assassins, as Bithia finds it much too formal. Bithia believes that if you have an enemy, you should charge into their cities and burn them to the ground. Not hire some assassin to do the dirty work for you. She would never hire an assassin, especially not targeting the heir Emperor Brawny's fair Kingdom. She had no reason to.

But, as is most of the time, she is blamed for it.

She rushed into the doors, to find a sobbing Nikki and the Emperor and Empress of the Crystal Empire.

"Greetings, Emperor Brawny, Emperess Calla, is the Princess okay, I heard screams," she said, a bit shaken, though you couldn't tell by her facial expression.

Suddenly, Spell Tome, her marefriend, suddenly appeared in the room with a magical burst that made Bithia jump. She didn't feel very comfortable around magic, but she tolerated it from the one she loved. Spell looked captivating, even when she didn't wear anything too formal.

"Spell! My love! What a...pleasant surprise!" She exclaimed.

Spell Tome leaned over and kissed Bithia. She loved it when she said My love. Not uncomfortable to have a relationship with her. Then she looked at the leaders of the Crystal Empire and gasped. She knew that at one point the blame would be shifted onto Ares. Even though Spell Tome knew Bithia hated assassinations, and preferred brutal tactics to kill somepony. And even then, the Crystal Empire never wronged anypony.

"Oh my. How can we aid?"

OzyManedias turned to leave. "Come along, Vas."

Vassago stared at Nikki. All he wanted was to be able to help...
"See you around." He said as he followed OzyManedias.

as the two walked through Linoka, a silence enveloped the two.

"Vassago." OzyManedias started. "What happened."

Vassago snorted. "Exactly what I said."

OzyManedias shook his head. "Are you sure? Why didn't you do anything to stop the assassin? We both know you are perfectly able to."

Vassago sighed. "It all turned out fine in the end, didn't it?"

OzyManedias frowned. "I think you should return to the castle. Empress Calla may be a little on edge at the moment, but I'm sure that your presence will do some good. Try and see if you can't help out in any way you can." Vassago nodded and started to walk back.

OzyManedias arrived at Queen Torna's yurt. "Huh... quaint." He knocked on the door.

Oreo stared at the piece of cake. The next thing she knew was it was gone. She then stared at the empty plate. She had no idea where it had went. She had some chocolate around her face.
"Where did it go?"
She pouted at her empty plate. She was still quite hungry. She looked under her plate for it.

(Sorry it's so short, I have just woken up)

The guard chuckled at the little filly. She was adorable. Just like his filly back at home. He cut her another slice of cake, amazed at how hungry one foal could get. Then again, she was stuck in the Everfree for a long time. Not much pony food there.

"So, have you thought about whether you'd like to stay here in the Crystal Empire? Or would you like to live with another Kingdom? There are quite a number of them. Queen Torna might be looking for an heir. Queens Bithia and Spell Tome can't actually have foals, so they might think it's nice to have you. There's Lords Ozy and Vassago, but I don't recommend them, after they kind of scared Nikki. But the little guy looks like he's getting nicer. Then there's us. The shiny ponies down here in the Crystal Empire."

"I don't really know, I would really love any home at all. My parents would have me in a castle, since I am royal flesh and blood."
She sighed and stared at her new piece of cake.
"I just want to go home... Or at least make some friends..."
Oreo went silent after that and started eating her cake. Why was life so cruel to a young filly?

Torna opened to door tor her yurt. She was not aware of what just happened, as she was out hunting. "Oh, hello Emperor Ozy", she says. She leaves the door open and gets back to taking her breastplate off. "What brings you here?"

"It is no bother at all," Calla said quickly, "but Brawny and I have private matters to discuss. Our only issue is the fact that you got into the castle... We just had a lockdown put into place. Optimus!"

The guard from earlier came rushing in.

"Yes, Your Highness?"

"We thought we made it clear that nopony gets in or out of the castle after the lord and his heir," she said impatiently.

"We posted the guard after they left, Your Majesty," he assured. "Queen Bithia and Queen Spell Tome arrived beforehand."

"We want the castle and the courtyard searched," Calla demanded. "Hurry to it and make sure no Equestrians are found!"

Optimus bowed out again and left the rulers.

"We apologize for the rudeness we seem to output," she assured the two Queens, "but We believe Honorius planned the attack on our daughter. You will find Queen Torna's yurt on the outside of the castle walls. I'm sure she would be able to aid you with your proper welcome. Our dearest apologies, our friends, but we must be alone in this matter. It is only for a short while."