EDIT: Hope you all enjoy this look at the plutocratic nation of Saddle Arabia, as well as another look at Queen Novo! P.S. Sorry to any who know Arabic if the last names or first names or names in general either don't make sense or aren't spelled correctly, I'm going off of what the Web tells me, as I don't have many books on the subject of Arabia.

EDIT: Okay, implemented some of the things you guys pointed out, just wanted to make something clear, though. The assassins are hired, meaning mercenaries. Mercenaries are very, very rarely ever associated officially with whomever's country they belong to. Just a thought for the future.

P.S.: There's two references hidden in the chapter now! Try to find them, and I'll give you a cameo in one of the future chapters!

Well, here's the second fan-voted chapter, folks. It took a bit longer than I wanted, and it was originally going to be longer, but I decided against it in the long run after my first writing ended up with this in the 6,000 word range. I don't typically like making chapters that long, always feels like I added too much detail when they're in that range.

Sorry in advance, J-90, I know you were looking for spies, and not assassination, but I figured that;

A) This situation was a bit overdue and

B) I've been wanting to start the scenarios that come after this for yoinks now.

Plus, it's close enough to spies, if you ask me. Still, sorry for not fully granting your wish.

Now, a quick warning to you all, this chapter is where the sex tag starts to finally creep in more. Emphasis on creep. As in, it's coming slowly. So, NO REAL SEX...for now. I'll try to keep the sexual references light, though, for those who don't like that sorta thing.

Now, without further ado, I bring you...

...The Fall Of Iron!

As I looked out the window of my airship, "The Arrogance", I couldn't help but giggle to myself. The plan was set. Based on the reports my spies had given me, Steel Axe was as gullible as I had figured him to be.

See, I'd been having my spies plant false info into the hands of his own spies. What kind of info, you ask? Simple. Info detailing an old ruin that might contain a god killing weapon. I'd known since the Festival he was looking for some way to at least put me under his boot, and, being my momma's girl, I was gonna show him that I didn't serve anyone. Mom taught me above all else to never yield, to never let others get in the way of my goals, and I was damned if I was gonna stop now.

But back to the matter at hand. My spies had left a false trail to an abandoned ruin, complete with a false weapon that was, supposedly, able to kill immortals like me. It had taken a bit of fancy footwork, so to speak, but it was done, and if the reports I'd gotten were true - and I'd checked twice to be certain just in case - Steel Axe had followed the trail hook, line, and sinker.

I'd toyed with him this whole time, thwarting every plot he made to try and get info on me and my people. He was angry. I scoffed, shaking my head. No, I won't sugarcoat it. He was fuckin' pissed. And now, all that rage had blinded him, and he thought he could kill me. I giggled again at the thought. He really was a child.

I sighed as I leaned back against my chair, finding myself repeating the mantra mom had beat into my head dozens of times over.

"Eliminate your enemies before they ever become a problem," I recited. Another giggle escaped me, this time softer. That woman was really something else. My smile faltered as memories of her surfaced, but I shook my head hard again to set my mind back on track. Currently, I was on my way to Applewood, specifically to watch one of the newest movies a hit producer had made.

In reality, it was just where I wanted to kill the would-be assassin or assassins. A public display would spread horror and awareness among the innocent ponies of Steel Axe's actions, and the Princesses, who would normally be the ones to play devil's advocate, would be left with little choice but to condemn Steel Axe for his actions.

I sighed, a smile firmly on my face. I love it when a plan comes together.

Looking out the window again allowed me to see the famous Applewood sign. My smile grew, and I looked to Ventus. "Show time, partner."

"W-W-Welcome to th-th-the Applewood Theatre, Your M-M-M-M-Majesty!" the poor, brown usher stallion stuttered. I giggled behind a hand. Such a cute reaction.

Idly, I let my eyes roam over his form. I've never really been that into bestiality, but after being here for at least three quarters of a year, and with little true relief, I will admit I was having...trouble, with wandering thoughts. And some of the creatures of this world kinda... intrigued me a little.

I refuse to go into huge detail, but, some of them were thoughts about whether or not ponies were...well, as 'gifted' as their cousins back home. My eyes slowly wandered downward, to below the belt.

"U-U-U-Um, Your Majesty?" the stallion queried, breaking me out of my thoughts. Shit! And he was blushing. Double shit! I tried to quell my unique body's reactions and cleared my throat.

"A-Apologies, usher, I was lost in thought," I lied. My eyes darted downward again, and I coughed into my fist immediately. 'Reminder to self, ponies don't wear pants.' I strode forward swiftly, making my way past him and towards the front doors of the theatre. "Thank you for the warm welcome!" I blurted out, trying to hide my blushing face. Ventus appeared, and I swear her optic was giving me a knowing look. I swatted her.

"Don't even start," I threatened. She simply chuckled and dematerialized. Cunt.

"U-Um, your show will be in stage eight!" the stallion called. I simply gave him a quick thank you and rushed inside the theatre's confines, my guards following silently.

'Goddammit, I really need to get laid. Been way too fucking long.' My face was burning, and I knew it. 'For fuck's sake, I was thinking of fucking a tiny horse!' I shook my head rapidly. 'Fucking new body and weird ass new hormones...'

I glanced to my guards. Couldn't see their reactions, but I swear, if they were smiling behind those masks, I'd be putting them through hell for the next two weeks.

Thankfully, I had a new distraction. My HUD, finally, had registered enemies on it's radar. Five at least, each surrounded in crowds. The various ponies gathered here to watch the blockbuster film were adequate cover, but my HUD didn't lie. Glancing about, I saw a good few individuals who were watching me, all wearing heavy and concealing clothes. And, considering that most were either ponies or griffons, with one minotaur, races that normally don't wear many clothes, I could tell who my targets were.

Discreetly, I motioned for my guards to ready themselves. And not a moment too soon, either, as out of nowhere a blast of magic made it's way for me. Sidestepping it, I had enough time to look behind me to see it's effects on a hapless bystander. They were frozen in place. 'Paralysis, huh? Not bad.' A scream tore through the gathered crowds, and all the ponies scattered. 'Not good enough, though, if they're attacking out in the open so brazenly like this. They must be really confident.' I smirked. 'Like child's play.' Soon after the shot, four of the five cloaked assassins charged.

My guards swiftly sprang into action, unsheathing their nagamaki's and bisecting the unicorn and pegasus with practiced, unified movements. I cracked a grin at that, glad my Legionnaires were so on point. I then casually stepped back as the griffon rushed me, trying to cut me down with her wing blades, only for me to whip out Crimson and blow her head clean off.

A glint from in front of me told me the minotaur had prepped the weapon, and I kept my smile as he approached, a grin on his own face.

"Nothing you can do against this!" He declared, before he pulled the trigger, and golden flames consumed me. "Ha ha ha ha! Take that! This is for Emperor Steel Axe! For my brothers! For my sisters! My country!" He continued laughing, stepping forward with the gait of a lion closing in on it's feast.

And then, I laughed. "Hahahahahahahahaha!" I laughed long, and I laughed hard. When the poor bull stopped the onslaught of flames, staring at me with wide eyes and a gaping mouth, I couldn't help but laugh even more, holding my gut. "Hehehe, hahahahaha! Oh my God! Your face is priceless!"

"W-What...are you?" he asked, stepping back, dropping the fake flamethrower.

My laughter slowly stopped, and I raised Crimson up. With a smirk, I said, "I'm the Queen," before squeezing the trigger.

Steel Axe grinned down at the minotaur before him. A messenger had finally arrived from Equestria. His assassins had succeeded, no doubt.

"My Emperor, I bring..." The bull gulped, shaking visibly as he knelt before his ruler.

Steel Axe growled. "Spit it out already," he ordered tersely.

The bull gulped once more, then produced a small, round, metal ball from his coat pocket. He held it out to the Emperor, and bowed his head lower. "...a message from the Queen of Storms."

Immediately a vein bulged out on Steel Axe's forehead, the bull gritting his teeth and gripping the arms of his throne hard enough that one would swear they heard the cracking of stone. "So, the whore lives..." He took a deep, shuddering breath, then gestured for the messenger to continue. "Continue."

A third gulp from the messenger. "Y-Yes, sire," he replied, before reluctantly pressing the button on the top of the ball. Immediately, a hologram of Lucette appeared, smiling that same smile she always wore.

"Hello there, Emperor Steel Axe. As you no doubt can tell, I live," Her smile grew. "And I killed your hired swords myself." She polished her nails on the side of her armor. "Barely worth the trouble. Complete waste of money, if you ask me." She looked back to the Emperor, who had gained five new bulging veins on his head as he listened. The guards and all present in the throne room tensed, giving their Emperor wary looks. "In light of your attempt at assassination, I am willing to talk this through in the emergency Council meeting this week. However," Steel Axe swore he saw a glint from her golden eyes behind her signature mask, despite the fact the hologram was one solid color. "I wanted to leave you with a little present. Enjoy~." With a giggle and dainty wave, she disappeared, and a tune began to play.

That day, Steel Axe was labeled the Crimson Emperor, for he killed all in the room in his rage.

"This is bad," Celestia muttered. That was the sixth time she'd said that today, and with good reason. Just three days ago, The Storm Queen had visited the Applewood Theatre and had been set upon by assassins in the open. Celestia paced in her study, her sister at the nearby table, staring at her cup of chamomile tea.

Luna sighed. "We are aware, sister." She stirred her tea idly with a spoon held aloft in her magic, brows furrowed. Eventually, she stopped stirring. "It was inevitable for Steel Axe to lash out, this much we knew, but I will admit, this is..."

"Bad. Very, very bad," Celestia finished. She stopped mid-pace, flopping onto her plot and cradling her head in her hooves. "With the amount of military strength that she has, there's no questioning what she'd do if we don't offer some sort of recompense!"

"If this were the old days, I'd suggest offering the head of the nobles whom the unicorn and pegasus assassins belonged to," Luna began, before shaking her head as she took a delicate sip of her tea and then put it back down.

"You know we can't do that now, Luna," Celestia groaned, still cradling her head.

Luna sighed but nodded. "Unfortunately, yes. A shame. I feel she might actually forgive us if we did that." She looked away from her immaculate silver tea cup to her sister. "What was the name of the house those two belonged to, again?"

Celestia sighed, removing her hooves from her head and slumping to the floor in a heap. "House Star, I believe." Celestia groaned again, flipping over and letting a forehoof rest over her eyes. "But they're not the only problem now."

Luna nodded, looking back to her tea. "Indeed. We now have citizens to calm, and a Council meeting to attend later this week."

The Solar Diarch let her hoof drop, her face the very picture of exhaustion. "Why must everything with that Queen be a whirlwind...?"

"She is like a whirlwind..." breathed Platinum Record, laying back in his throne. His name being as it was, it was strange to see one such as him in the throne of a Trader King of Saddle Arabia, but the stallion had risen through his poverty much more quickly than any could anticipate, and thus much more quickly to the status of Trader King.

"Truly. Yet she is oddly more refined in her movements, exotic, too, if what I've seen in the tabloids is true," mused Broadmane Shaitan, stroking his chin. He licked his lips. "Perhaps I should visit her in person..."

A pegasus mare scoffed. "Oh please, spare us your fetishes, Broadmane. Besides, I doubt she'd even give you the time of day." Aaliyah Aida, the first and only Trader Queen, lived up to her namesake. She bore supple flanks and curves that would give the Sisters a run for their money, a model-like figure that even Fleur De Lis had acknowledged, and wings that many pegasi stallions and even some mares would die to be wrapped up in. Her enchanting blue fur and green eyes helped, as well.

She had risen to her current level through much careful maneuvering, and was famous for owning most of the taverns, inns, and even a good few brothels in the Saddle Arabian Kingdom. Her information network, as a result, was nigh impeccable. And, as a result, she knew more of the Storm Queen than most of her colleagues. "Her delegate seems to have enough trouble keeping herself from cutting you down on the spot every time you make a move on her." She gave the stallion a glare. "Honestly, give it a rest for once, you old fool."

"Oh like you don't know the feeling," argued Adil Akeem, crossing his hooves over his red furred chest, his wings folded behind him. He owned most of the smithies and forges in the kingdom, and thus owned most of the weapon and arms trade. "You sit in your own personal brothel when you're not busy, after all, taking your pick of your special litter."

Aaliyah growled. "You best curb that tongue of yours, before I cut it for you!"

"Both of you shut it," intoned Alif Bassam, the debatably most reasonable and level-headed of the five. He owned many of the mines in the kingdom, as well as the silk farms, and as such controlled those trades and their affiliated subjects. He gestured to the messenger prostrated at the front of the golden doors. "We should get back to the matter at hand. That being, how we should respond."

"We've tried inviting her for a diplomatic visit a number of times," Platinum spoke up, rubbing his forehead with a hoof plated in his namesake. "And yet each time she has told us not only that she has," he raised his hooves to make air quotes. "'More pressing issues' but that we should defer all questions to her delegate."

"That's essentially saying she doesn't find us worthy of her time," Adil grumbled.

Aaliyah rolled her eyes. "That's exactly what she's saying."

Broadmane grunted. "All we can truly do is try to hasten our efforts to get her here, then."

They all collectively sighed and unanimously uttered, "Whirlwind indeed..."

There was an urge to jump in.

There always was with her kind, being tied to both sea and air. And, being the queen of her kind, standing on the docks that lead out into her domain, it was entirely understandable. She frowned, brows furrowing as she gazed off into the distant sea. She could just make out The Great Iceberg Barrier, where enemies just as if not more hated than the Skili lived; Sirens.

And beyond that was the Storm Isles. The isles full of a culture who worshipped the sky yet did not fly true in it, who worshipped the earth yet did not live in it. She scoffed.

"Ridiculous. How they ever got that religion, I shall never know," She shook her head, looking to the moon above. "That woman, though..." She sighed. 'I can't get a read on her at all...' Her frown deepened, and her gaze turned somber. "Terminus...I don't know how I can keep my promise, with your killer dead, but..." She turned around, and started to walk away from the dock. Her final words were heavy in more ways than one. "...I will keep it."