"Right this way, milord!"

Pen Stroke's son, Gold Coin, was beyond happy to guide the changeling about the palace. In the last thirty minutes, Pan had received enough love energy from the Crystal Heart to keep him going for the next ten years. Gold Coin, on the other hoof, met that amount, and then doubled it, in ten seconds flat. Hero worship is a powerful thing.

The little crystal colt, an earth pony with a silver coat and brilliantly bright gold mane and tail (If you need to be told what his cutie mark is, you obviously did not pay attention to the name), was a bundle of energy, love and otherwise. The little fellow could not stand still, and was practically pronking with every step. It was hard to believe that only half an hour before, he had been in chains and in abject misery.

"Here is your bedroom, milord," Gold said, grinning cheerfully. "We're getting the fresh linens prepared for you, and will have them in place by nightfall."

The room in question was... spectacular. It was larger than most houses that the changeling had seen. It was incredibly, unspeakably clean, the kind that requires somepony having come in every day for the last ten years and polishing everything. Several massive windows let in the sunlight, and the room was filled with obviously valuable furniture. The four poster bed alone could have held twenty changelings, and given them space enough to spread their limbs and wings in all directions. This was a bed built for alicorns. The entire room was a vision of extreme, unspeakable opulence.

...It's good to be the king. Better to be the emperor.

Having seen the location of his bedroom, Pan was ready to see the rest of his new home, and was about to say so to Gold, when he noticed the wistful expression on the young colt's face as he stared at the bed. It seemed that, regardless of the species, and regardless of the era, children were the same all over.

"You want to jump on it?"

Gold Coin looked up at the changeling, and after a moment, a sad look crossed his face and he said, "I cannot. It's not allowed."

A thoughtful expression crossed the changeling's face. "I'm pretty sure," Pan said, a slow smile blooming on his features, "that if I say it's allowed, then it's allowed."

The colt's expression became one of pure and unfiltered surprise. "You mean..."

Nodding, Pan took on a regal pose, then said, in an exaggeratedly formal voice, "I, Emperor Pandinus Imperator The First, Ruler of the Crystal Empire And All Who Doth Dwell Within, do hereby grant you permission to go jump up and down atop the royal bed like a little madpony for the next five minutes."

Gold Coin gave a court bow, happily exclaimed, "Yes, milord," then leapt, clearing the distance between the doorway and the bed in a single, seemingly impossible, bound. Upon landing, he promptly began to enthusiastically obey his emperor's order. Pan, on the other hoof, sat back and watched the youngster give the bed the a serious once-over, a bemused expression on the changeling's face.

A moment later, a maid walked in with the fresh linens, and saw the colt bouncing ecstatically atop the bed, the new emperor watching, smiling. Noticing her, the changeling turned and said, "Extremely important emperor business in progress. Please wait a moment."

The maid, a crystal pegasus who was, at the very oldest, fourteen years of age, giggled. She said, "Certainly, milord."

After his five minutes was up, Gold hopped off of the bed, then returned to the emperor with a bow. "Thank you for that, milord. Are you ready to resume your tour of the palace?"

Nodding, Pan said, "Certainly. Please lead the way." Nodding to the maid, the changeling added, "Thank you for your patience. Carry on."

The maid gave a curtsey, giggled again, then walked over to the bed. When the colt and the changeling left the room, the maid was humming merrily to herself as she placed the linens upon the bed.
--------------------

"Are you alone?"

Wild Wing, secret agent of the princesses, currently disguised as a maid, nodded, touched a small stud in one ear, and said, "Yes, your highness. I have a report to make. You will not believe what has happened today."
--------------------

"Here are the royal baths, milord," Gold Coin said, a few minutes later. "Hot water is pumped into this room via a complex mechanism connected to a natural hot spring deep beneath the city. If you desire a hot bath, one can be prepared for you anytime, day or night. Please bear in mind," he added as an afterthought, "that while the smaller washing tub can be prepared within five minutes of your request, the grand bath requires close to half an hour. The good news is, once the grand bath is filled, enchantments placed within it will keep the water heated for several hours if need be. A cold bath is also available, and can be completed in half the time."

Now this was an impressive sight to see. Pan had seen bath houses in various kingdoms throughout his time with the swarm, and this one could have easily fallen in the category of 'luxury' baths. The 'washing tub', as Gold put it, was roughly the size and shape of an extra large hot tub, and the grand bath... well, it was basically a small swimming pool.

More impressive still was the craftsponyship of the entire affair. This had obviously been built, not just to impressive the locals, but foreign dignitaries as well. The floor, walls, and ceilings were covered in an impressive mosaic pattern of small crystal tiles. The amount of work that would have gone into building this was staggering, given that this was one thousand years before what Pan considered the modern era.

Gold Coin added, "We also have servants available to assist you in washing yourself any time you please, as well as to assist you in dressing yourself when you are done. Some forms of royal regalia and court dress can be incredibly difficult put on by yourself, and the staff is willing and able to aid you in cleaning any and all hard to reach areas." Clearing his throat, Gold added, in a tone implying he was reciting this from memory, "The bath servants are not here to provide any services beyond that. If you have any special needs that you wish to have met, please notify the chancellor. He will make the necessary arrangements for you." The colt was now visibly blushing. "While we would never dream of telling you what to do, it is recommended that you exercise good judgement in any romantic liaisons you may pursue. Illegitimate children can cause a number of problems later down the line." Gold's face was now bright red.

Pan would be blushing himself, if he wasn't already bright blue due to his 'defect'. This was not a conversation he'd planned on having with a young colt today. Seriously, a six year old had just told him, formally, not to hit on the staff, that if he wanted to have a flank call made, all he had to do was notify the chancellor, and that he should try not to knock any mares up that he wasn't married to? The chancellor really should have mentioned that himself, instead of having his son do it. Not cool. Well, it was a different time, he supposed. Children grew up fast in the past. "Well, that's more than enough on that subject. Do we have a wine cellar? I could really use a drink right about now."

Much more relaxed, Gold nodded, then said, "Certainly, your majesty. We'll head over there now. The royal tapmaster will be happy to oblige us."
-------------------------

Most changelings don't drink. It's not be cause they can't (While they lack the ability to digest solids, they can still ingest liquids), but because alcohol is very difficult to obtain, given their migratory nature. There are no changeling vineyards, and no changeling breweries (There was a changeling meth lab once, but it was stopped abruptly when it was discovered that crystal meth makes a changeling's head explode. No, that's not a metaphor). What spirits they desired had to be stolen. Pan's role, in the time after an invasion had succeeded, was to raid the wine cellars and taverns for good booze so they could celebrate the victory properly. Naturally, he'd always kept the really good stuff for himself. Booze helped him forget about his personal issues, at least for a while...

Anyways, due to this , Pan had seen a few wine cellars, but this one put them all to shame. The cellars beneath the Crystal Palace was stocked with hundreds of massive kegs of beer, bottles of fine wine, and casks of much more exotic liquors.

"They have all thirty-two flavors," Pan said, with a voice tinged with awe.

A massive pony, sporting limbs as thick as tree trunks, and a dark brown coat with a close cropped, cream colored mane, and carrying a keg nearly as big as he was, stepped into view, then said, "Milord, if somepony claims we only have thirty-two types of spirits within these halls, I will call them out as a slanderer. There does not exist, in Equestria or anywhere else in the world, a collection that can come close to rivaling our own." Extending his foreleg, the giant said, "Malted Barley, Royal Tapmaster, at your service, milord."

Pan shook the massive hoof, and said, "Pandinus Imperator. It's a pleasure to meet you, Malt. Now, I am in need of a drink." The changeling suddenly realized something that he'd nearly forgotten to do. "Ah, while I do so, though, there's a ritual I need to observe. Do you happen to know what Sombra's favorite was?"

The tapmaster's expression turned thoughtful as he said, "I think I know the ritual you speak of, milord. I'll return with the bottle you'll need shortly." With that, Malted Barley turned and disappeared into the depths of the cellar.

Looking up at the changeling, Gold Coin asked, "What ritual, milord?"

With a faraway expression on his face, Pan said, "Where I am from, it's commonly called 'pouring one out', but you'd probably know it as 'libation'. Think of it as an offering for the good will of the one who is no longer here. It's typically done in memory of the dead."

The colt's expression of disbelief was priceless, as he asked, "And you're going to do it for King Sombra?" Gold Coin's tone implied that this was one of the stupidest things that he had ever heard.

Given that, only an hour ago, King Sombra had been making this colt's life a living Tartarus, his reaction wasn't surprising, but...

"Someone should," Pan said, his expression solemn. "You're a little young to understand it, but... well, it's a tradition. A very, very old tradition. It's normally done in memory of friends or loved ones, but some it is often done in memory of enemies as well. My father used to do it any time one of his foes passed away." The changeling silently added, Although he'd typically say, 'Here's something to wash my piss out of your mouth' when he did so. Changeling aristocrats were not a refined lot, nor were they very nice...

"Anyways, it's said that the ones who are gone get to drink the liquor that is poured out for them in their name," Pan concluded, nodding at the tapmaster, who was returning with a pair of goblets and a bottle of wine. "Maybe it's just superstition, but it's one I try to observe whenever I can. And I doubt anypony else will pour one out for him. Since I was the one who killed him, it's only right that I do the honors."

The crystal pony nodded, then poured a generous serving into one of the goblets. With a solemn expression, Malt handed the goblet over, and said, "Sombra was a monster, and the world is a better place with him gone, but I will admit, he knew his spirits. This is a bottle of wine from the Gryphus vineyards. Very hard to get, the griffons almost never export it, and typically only give it as a gift to royalty. This one was sent to the old king as a wedding gift. It's, well, it's the very last one we have. Sombra drank the rest, and was probably saving this last one for a special occasion."

The Gryphus vineyards would be practically legendary in Pan's time, mainly because, about a hundred years from now, a terrible war would break out, and the vineyards would be destroyed during one of the bloodiest battles the Griffin Kingdoms would ever see. Some sort of magic had been unleashed over the course of the battle, poisoning the soil, or perhaps cursing it, so that grapes would never grow there again. Anything else grew just fine, but whoever had worked the dark spell had wanted to rob the kingdoms of their most famous product. Nine hundred years later, only three bottles remained, and nopony was going to drink them, ever. If Pan had possessed some way of taking this bottle back to the modern age, he could probably sell it for more money than he could imagine... and Pan had a great imagination.

Pluck it, it would be a hundred years before the vineyards would be gone, and he was an emperor now. If he wanted to, he could go personally to whoever the king of the griffins was right now, and buy as many bottles as he could carry. Besides, Pan couldn't help but wonder if this would be as good as it was said to be.

Pan took the offered chalice, then said, "I pour this out in the memory of King Sombra," he began as he emptied the goblet on the floor, his expression and tone still solemn, "who died before his time, although many would argue it was nowhere near soon enough. I hope they serve beer in Tartarus, because if they don't, I doubt you're going to get another drink anytime soon. Either way, savor it." After the changeling finished, the tapmaster refilled the cup with a grin. Pan grinned in return, then said, "Because I know I will." Pan emptied the entire cup in one go. Silently, he added, I'm not sorry you're dead, Sombra, but I am sorry that I'm the one who killed you.

The wine was... good. Very good, although not quite as spectacular as legend made it out to be. Pan had tasted better. Not often, but once or twice.

The tapmaster indulged as well, then said, "As I said, he had good taste. I'm more of a beer pony myself, of course, but I know good stuff when I taste it." With a raised eyebrow, the pony asked, "Are you truly planning on holding a great feast for the entire kingdom tomorrow, milord?"

News travels fast, it seems. "I certainly am," Pan said with a nod, then added, "And while I wouldn't ask you to donate anything truly irreplaceable to the proceedings, I would consider it a favor if you made certain that a plentiful supply of our best made it there." It wouldn't do if they didn't have enough spirits to go around.

Grinning, the crystal pony said, "I'd be happy too, milord. If there was ever a time for celebration, it's now. I've already got a dozen barrels in mind, and I can have another dozen brought up, just in case we need extra."

With a nod, the new emperor said, "Make it so." Hearing a loud grumble, Pan looked down at the young colt, who looked a little embarrassed. With a chuckle, the changeling asked, "I'm guessing the kitchens will be our next stop?"

Nodding, Gold Coin said, "Aye, milord. That is, if you don't mind."

"One moment," Pan said, then grinned, grabbed the bottle out of the tapmaster's hooves, then emptied the entire bottle in a long pull. The older pony gave a whistle of admiration when the changeling finished. Best not to let good wine go to waste, and as Malt said, he was a beer pony. "It's been a pleasure meeting you, Malt, and I expect we'll be seeing each other often."

"Likewise, milord," the pony said, with a serious expression, "I'm always glad for the company. Come by anytime."

The two shook hooves, and the changeling turned to the colt, and said, "Lead on."
------------------------

A few minutes later, when Malted Barley returned with a rag to clear up the offering, the pony was surprised to find that the pool of spilled wine was gone. After a moment, he shrugged, and decided that somepony, probably one of the maids, had already come and cleaned it up...
-------------------------

"Special delivery for you, sir."

Sombra looked up from the report that he was reading. His conquest of Tartarus had been a farce, honestly. Stick a master of fear and hate in the prison built especially to punish the most wicked and dreadful beings in existence, and you've got a recipe for disaster, at least for anything that got in his way. There was more hate here than there was anyplace else in the world. It might have been dicey if something had happened to his horn, but his power had remained, even now. While it would take a very, very long time for Sombra to escape, the tyrant already had plans in motion. Time moves slowly in Tartarus, though: In the world of the living, only an hour had passed. Here in Tartarus, it had been several thousand years, and it would take ages uncounted for him to break free...

One of the... 'things' that server as jailers (It would be impossible to describe these creatures, and even attempting to do so would cause you to have a severe aneurysm. They looked almost like GAAAH MY BRAIN!!!) carried a goblet of wine. The tyrant, surprised, took it, then asked, "Where did this come from?"

The creature said, in a voice that sounded like razors cutting through silk, "Someone up there poured one out it your name, sir."

Sombra took a sip, then, surprise and delight forming on his face as he recognized his favorite wine, he took a deeper drink. After a moment, he looked down at a small tag that was attached to the goblet. Sighing happily, the tyrant said, "I needed that." As he took his time enjoying his first drink in millennia, Sombra looked thoughtful. After a few minutes, the dread lord admitted, "I should probably get him something, by way of thanks..."

Dark and evil Sombra might be, but he at least understood the concept of gratitude, and anyone who would pour in his name a cup of wine worth ten thousand bits per glass deserved something back for the trouble...
-------------------------

The rest of the tour went by fairly quickly, although it did take up the rest of the day. After they were done, Gold Coin led Pan back to the emperor's new bedroom, then gave a deep bow, stating, "That completes the tour of the Crystal Palace, milord. It is late now, so it is likely best if you retire for the evening. My father will send somepony to wake you in the morning."

Pan extended a hoof, then said, "Thank you for showing me around. I greatly appreciate it."

Grinning cheerfully, Gold said, "It was a pleasure, milord. If there is anything you need, feel free to call upon me, or upon any member of the staff. We are here to serve."
------------------------

As Pan got himself settled into bed, he couldn't help but marvel at the drastic change in his luck. Just twenty-four hours ago, he was a social pariah: The aristocrats had rejected him because he could not do magic, while the commoners would have little to do with him, because he was a born and bred aristo, magic or not. Neither fish, nor fowl, nor good red herring. Now, suddenly he had ponies kneeling before him, calling him the emperor. They didn't care who his parents were, or what natural abilities he had. It was... incredible. He liked it here. He wanted to stay, and not just because he was getting the royal treatment. It was because, for the first time in his life, he was accepted...

All he had to do now was get this kingdom up and running, make sure the nobility didn't think he was some kind of pushover, and gain the princesses approval of his continued reign over the city.

How hard could that be?

Author's Notes:

Pronking
Libation