My Little Pony: Sleeping Giant
Chapter 7: Spirit of the Samurai
I never outlawed weapons like swords under my leadership. A great majority of Ponies that live in Uma come from the clans of the samurai. Many of them have heirlooms such as swords. I never abolished the samurai class. Although our land is modern with our industry and with a stout Imperial Army, Navy and Air Force, we never forget who we are.
There is harmony between the past and the present. When I walk these streets of Kiku with my escorts, I still see mares in kimonos and even western dresses and hats. I see stallions in montsuki, hoari, and hakama. Others wear western clothing too like suits and bowler hats. In the cities, we have electricity and in the countryside we have railroads.
Everypony bows as I pass by, "皇后に道を譲る! (Kōgō ni michi o yuzuru!: 'Give way for the Empress!')," ordered the head of my Imperial Guard as I walked by under his watchful eye, and those of the guards. From my travels, I see the same industrial growth in cities like Gwangmu where the past is in harmony with the present among those kind Griffons
"A wondrous country, it's all thanks to you, your Highness," said the Captain of the Imperial Guard, Shusui. He is a light tan-colored stallion of a majestic height and build like the samurai-ponies of old. His dress cap has a red and white feathers to go with his dark blue uniform to signify his rank. In truth, he is samurai hailing from the Northern Clans.
His mane and tail are as black as ink. He wears a short, slicked-back style to his mane which is common and popular among my guards. Like all my guards, he is a unicorn. He takes pride in his katana at his side. It is a Type 98 Shin-Gunto, but he proves that the old ways are still alive in the modern times. His sword to him is his soul. A proud warrior.
"Are you married?" I asked Shusui
"I have a wife, her name is Hisui and I have a son, Higen," He said, mustering a grin to me. We returned to the palace where I was greeted by Lady Jasmine, my very smart and beautiful advisor. Dressed in a red and white kimono which hides her pale sand-colored pelt, she bowed in my presence. She moved aside to present Keen Eye and Princess Luna
My rifle-armed guards bowed, and returned to their posts. As she is a princess, I will give her an imperial welcome, "Tsukihime-sama, I warmly you to Kiku, the Imperial Capital of Uma, you here seeking exile and it is granted, my palace is your palace, my dear," I welcomed her as they bowed to me "it is a great honor to be in your presence, Tsukihime"
"Tsukihime?" Princess Luna whispered
"Moon Princess," Keen Eye translated
I gestured for them to rise with my hoof, and I saw the magic item on Princess Luna's horn, "Ah...an Inhibitor Ring, this is very powerful magic, but nothing that I cannot handle, as such an item can only be released by one of equal or greater power," I explained, I took a deep and ready sigh as I powered up my magic around the ring, and I released her.
"Lady Jasmine, may I have the box please?" I requested of her, Lady Jasmine bowed, and presented a small, black lacquered box and I placed the ring in there, "thank you," I said, and earned a warm smile from my advisor, "you have had a long journey, I ask that you use the next few days to rest and recover your strength Princess Luna" I requested
"Good work, Keen Eye, I will see to it that you are handsomely rewarded for your success," I said to the most beautiful mare I have ever seen. I say that with all of my honesty and no jealousy in my heart and mind. Her griffon husband is most blessed to have her in his life. It is my hope that at this war's conclusion that their marriage will be legalized.
"Do you think you will move to Kiku?"
Keen Eye lightly shook her head to my suggestion, "Apologies your Highness, but I'm staying in the Griffon Kingdom, I want to be there for the resistance, and for my husband," Keen Eye replied, in her words, I can see the heart of a loving wife and the spirit of a warrior. A very powerful combination I see in many mares in the Imperial Military Branches.
Keen Eye bowed, and made her leave to the guest quarters with escort from the Guards. At my study, I made a notice for her to give to Princess Ghislaine on her return to the Griffon Kingdom, congratulating her for success in Princess Luna's rescue and promising the Griffon Princess and her Queen Mother that I have troops on the ground for the war.
I do respect her decision to stand her ground, and fight. When the war began, envoys from Equestria came demanding the 'Unconditional Surrender of the Empire of Uma to the Will of Princess Celestia'. I will never dishonor myself or my Ponies to such a will. The envoys did not bow as a greeting or when they left, and they left at the barrels of my rifles.
The next day, I sat down to tea and breakfast with my guests. Princess Luna looks to making a steady recovery from the effects of that 'Inhibitor Ring', "Good morning, Princess Luna, you look better today than when you first arrived yesterday," I said with a warm smile to her as warm as the miso soup I have presented for the two of them to partake in.
The two bowed as I was presenting them with tea, "You are most hospitable, O Empress," said Princess Luna, "when I was imprisoned, that cursed 'Inhibitor Ring' only allowed me to raise the moon, it will not allow me any freedom to use my magic as I was strictly confined to my cell, with your help, I shall recover and take this fight back to my sister,"