Wizard_in_Equestria Chapter 16

Chapter 16
>You stand on the balcony of your apartment as the changeling delegation enters the castle.
>Celestia instructed you to not approach the changelings before you start the negotiations.
>The ambassador is surrounded by at least a dozen heavily armoured changeling guards.
>From this distance it looks like the armour is completely sealed and there are no weak points or any exposed flesh.
>You didn’t know the changelings had knights like this.
>At least the records from the changeling invasion didn’t say anything about it.
>Kardarak himself is clad in shining baroque bronze armour on his shoulders hangs a long red cape.
>On the backs of his closest guards hang large shields polished so much they act like mirrors in which the changeling constantly enjoys the visage of his own face.
>You turn your gaze to the opposite end of the courtyard where two large ornamented door open to reveal the princesses of Equestria.
>Or, well the two most prominent at least.
>Luna and Celestia greet the Ambassador and lead him inside.
>The meeting starts in an hour or so.
>You open the cupboard and take out a bottle of whiskey.
>You pour a glass and take a sip.
>As you sit and enjoy the calm before the storm your mind wanders to Twilight.
>You shouldn’t just have left P0nyville without saying goodbye to her first.
>You are going back as soon as you are done here.
>You need to get this over with.
>How you miss Twilight.
>After downing the rest of your drink you take on your formal clothes and head for the chamber Celestia chose for the negotiations to take place.

>Before you enter the room Celestia pulls you aside to talk to you.
>Cel: “I’m sorry about yesterday. I shouldn’t have kissed you.” She looks genuinely sorry.
>You kissed her back.
“It’s okay, Celestia. But let’s just stay friends,” You extend a hand. “Deal?”
>Celestia shakes your hand with her hoof.
>You give a short bow and open the door.
>Ambassador Kardarak is sitting on the far end of the room.
>You walk up to him with a smile. “Greetings Ambassador Kardarad. Allow me to introduce myself, I am Anonymous the Human and I will be taking Princess Celestia’s place today.”
>His jaw drops, his eyes grow to the size tea cups and his irises shrinks to the size of pinpricks.
>You have never tried to read changeling expressions before.
>Your semi-professional guess would be shock.
“Yes I know I look different but let us at least try to act civilised.”
>You take a seat on a chair opposite of the changeling.
>He regains his composition.
>Kar: “How do they expect me to negotiate with a monster?”
>You look in one of the mirrors Kardarad’s guards are holding.
>You don’t think you look like a monster.
“I guess you’ll just have to live with it. I am the only male here with enough power to actually have any say in politics.”
>Well you think you have power!
“Who else would it be? Blueblood? He would cower before you and probably sell you all of Equestria for less than a bit if you spared his life. Shining Armour? He is a competent soldier but he knows nothing of politics.” You don’t know anything about politics either but you just roll with it. “And Celestia? You wouldn’t take her seriously. That leaves me. Now enough chit chat let’s get down to business.”

>You take forth the revised Treaty of Canterlot.
“Last year when you failed your foolish attempt at invading Canterlot a little agreement was made between our two countries, The Treaty of Canterlot, a stalemate was agreed upon and…”
>The changeling cuts you off. “I already know these things, my incompetent queen Crysalis, bless her holy name, was the one who made it. We were defeated and under great pressure but I can assure you… Human was it? That our numbers are greater and we are more organised than ever.”
>More organised than ever?
>You thought Kardarad’s rise to power caused some political strife in their empire.
>He is clearly bluffing.
>He must be.
“That is all very well, I know that you are more powerful than you were before the… unfortunate event last year therefor I have revised our previous agreement to make it more fair to your country.”
>You open the new and the old treaty and point on a map you had prepared before the meeting.
“In the old treaty we agreed on creating a ‘no-man’s-land’ between our two lands. I have decided that this was a poor course of action.”
>Now for the bait.
“This piece of land clearly belongs to you and it runs adjacent to this line of mountains serving as a natural border for Equestria and the Empire. Now changing this will be mutually beneficial as it will create a smaller traveling distance for traders of both p0nies and changeling races.”
>You can see a small smirk appear on Kardarad’s face.
>Maybe this will work out after all.

>The negotiations end after six hours.
>In that time you have nurtured a small hatred for that narcissistic megalomaniac.
>Fuck Kardarak.
>You ended up avoiding war by having him sign the new Treaty of Canterlot and declaring that no changeling army under the rule of Queen Crysalis shall cross the borders.
>You gave him a fortune and a large piece of land in return.
>It could have gone better.
>But it could definitely have gone much worse too.
>After you have given report to Celestia and gotten a HUGE amount of bits you return to your chambers on your way there some a little peculiar happens.
>You meet one of Kardarak’s guards.
>???: “Greetings sire. My name is Levuark, I have a proposition for you.”
>You motion for him to go on.
>Lev: “My master, Kardarak, does not pay me well and frankly I am tired of his ramblings about war and conquest, I was thinking I might work for someone a little less insane. Namely you.”
>What?
>He can’t work for you, changelings are considered enemies here.
“What were you thinking?”
>Lev: “Well I often pass by the borders of Equestria as my hive lies nearby. I could occasionally provide you with some valuable knowledge or intelligence.”
“So you are telling me you want to be my spy?”
>Lev: “For the right price of course.”
>Your own spy?
>He might prove useful.
“Tell me what your changeling master pays you and double it.”
>He looks very happy.
>You end up paying him roughly 100 bits every six months.
>You bless the high value of the Equestrian bits compared to the changeling’s.
>To him a hundred bits are a small fortune.
>You make an arrangement and part ways.
>You return to your room, pack your things and get ready leave.

>You hug Celestia.
>Her embrace is nice.
>You are friends now.
>Just friends.
“Thank you for everything, Celestia.”
>Celestia smiles and releases her grip on you.
>You shake Luna’s hoof and say goodbye to her too.
>Valorous Heart said goodbye to you when you left your room, she didn’t want to be here now as it would be quote: ‘a little too emotional for her taste.’
>You had become close friends during these last few days.
>You smile to yourself as you step up on the chariot.
>You’re going to miss the friends you made here.
>The two pegasi pulling the chariot start running.
>The chariot takes off as the stallions bash their wings.
>You wave until the two princesses are out of sight.
>In the distance P0nyville is constantly growing bigger.
>This is much faster than a train.
>You look down at your fingers and examine the ring Luna gave you as a parting gift.
>You don’t know Luna that well so it came as a surprise when she gave you a magic ring.
>’It should help you concentrate’ she said.
>It’s not like you can feel any noticeable difference in your concentration.
>The ring is made of platinum and it holds a single bright, polished, white gem.
>A piece of the moon.
>You try casting a small spell.
>Before you can give word to the spell a prism of ice materialises in your hand.
>Just thinking ‘Ice shard’ was enough to form one in your and.
>You dispel it.
>You like this new power.
>The chariot is slowing down now.
>You’re approaching P0nyville.
“Thank you for the ride, gentlecolts.”
>You jump out of the chariot and levitate down to the town square.
>First stop: The library.