“Twilight is an unusual name,” Reman said of nowhere, before he filled his mouth yet another forkful of eggs. The three had been eating in relative peace, making smalltalk when necessary. The subjects were never on track for more than a few moments, with Reman's comment being the latest derail.

“Twilight is a perfectly normal name.” The Unicorn replied with a huff. “It's your name that's weird.” She said, before she realized how offensive that could have been. To her surprise, Reman's offense was obviously faked.

“I'll have you know that I'm named after a war hero.” The Imperial said in a false, incredulous tone. “The great Reman Cyrodiil!” The Imperial, while remaining seated, struck what could have been considered a heroic pose, though he ended up looking comical, instead. The two mares laughed at the man's antics, who laughed in turn.

“Just what was so great about him?” Glade smirked as she leaned over the table. “I mean, if he shares a name with you, he can't be all that amazing.” Now, the Imperial became serious, which stunned the mares across from him.

“Reman the Cyrodiil, founder of the Second Empire of Tamriel, a culture-god, he was worshiped alongside Talos until the first century of the Third Era.” The lycan propped head on his elbows, “Cyrodiil routed the Akiviri invaders at the Battle of Pale Pass, he even convinced his former enemies to help him build his great empire.”

“You're named after a man your people consider a god?” Twilight cocked her head, intrigued by his polytheistic society, doubly so in regards to gods falling out of favor.

“Reman was once considered a god, I have no idea why he is no longer worshiped, but I wish he was.” Reman grinned conspiratorially at the prospect.

“Why, if your people stopped, doesn't that mean he wasn't that great to begin with?” Glade asked. “Or do you just want use your name as a way to meet mares?” Reman suddenly realized Glade had no idea what a female human was called, odd that the he never informed her. Nevertheless, Reman chuckled at her joke.

“Actually, that isn't the reason, but it would be a nice benefit. I just want to see the Dominion try and outlaw the worship of two hero-gods.” Reman's eyes held an inferno, something about this Dominion had riled something inside him, that much was obvious to the two ponies with him.

“Dominion?” Twilight repeated the word to herself, not meaning to ask a question, except to herself. Regardless of her intent, Reman scoffed, his disgust painfully obvious.

“An upstart nation that defeated the Empire, only because the Emperor surrendered when Altmer blades pressed at his throat.” Whether Reman was angry with the Dominion, or his Emperor, Twilight had no idea. “But, enough of that, let's finish eating.”

@#@#@#@#@#@

Despite the snow, it was warm enough to warrant going nude, for the ponies around town, anyway. That was Reman's observation from this particular rooftop. The Imperial had managed to convince Twilight to join him here, with Glade agreeing outright. This perch would be private enough to speak freely, after all, Reman was in Ponyville for business.

“You're being awfully quiet, Reman.” The Unicorn observed, taking in the Imperial's odd expression, as though he was mulling over something important.

“I'm just trying to think of the best way to word this request.” He replied, as though his statement was expected. Twilight took notice of how very little he cared about her response, however nonverbal it may have been.

“Why don't you just ask, it's not like she can really deny you the information.” Glade spoke from her perch above her two associates, not a care in the world. She was met with a flat look from her Imperial pack-mate. “Just saying.”

“You can ask for anything, I’ll do my best to help,” Twilight decided to refine her statement. “Within reason, of course.” She added with a bashful smile, an attempt at humor, it would seem.

Reman was quiet for a few moments, truly mulling over his options. While he'd never been eloquent, the Imperial was decent when it came to getting what he wanted. The subject had to be approached in a certain manner, a subtle stroking of the ego, and that posed the problem. Rarity, Dash, hell, even Applejack would have been easier to deal with. Twilight had been a student under Celestia, lots of book knowledge, but little real-world experience; tiptoeing around the issue wouldn't work. Reman just had to come flat out, and face the consequences.

“As you know, Glade and I are preparing for an... expedition, of sorts.” Reman would have to be professional, no insider terms for the Unicorn. “Adventures require supplies, you know, potions, camping gear, clean cloths, the works.” Reman stopped leaning of the roof's low wall, and faced the mares. “More specifically, Glade and I will be needing armor, preferably something durable, and maybe some weapons, but those aren't necessary.”

Weapons? Armor? The only place Twilight could think of that had those was the armory in Canterlot. The blacksmith in town only knew how to make a few items, mostly horseshoes and nails. This posed a problem for them, a very large one, at that. “I'm certain an intelligent girl like yourself would be able to help.” Check ego stroking off the list.

“I'm sorry, Reman, but you can’t buy weapons in Ponyville.” Twilight's words sent a lance of frustration through the Imperial. No regular weapons, unless he contacted the Princesses, and that was a revelation he did not want to make. “But I do know where you can get some armor.” Twilight added in an attempt to give Reman some hope. Regardless of success, the Unicorn had managed to capture his attention.

A myriad a possibilities ran through his head. What materials were used, how reliable they would be under constant use, things of that nature. But, and this was the most prominent question he had, where would he procure these bits of apparel? Some skilled, eccentric artisan, or perhaps a gruff, old blacksmith who could forge anything, as long as it's simple and strong? Old encounters flashed before his eyes, he tried to find a pony that matched one of his old acquaintances.

“You remember Rarity, right?” Reman's world came crashing down. Rarity was a seamstress, that meant clothes, fancy cloths, fancy, itchy clothes. Now, Reman wasn't a nudist, however, he knew suit cloths were often itchy, and difficult to move in. Only once had Reman fought while in formal attire, and he'd nearly died. Maybe he was just being paranoid, and by the Nine, he hoped he was.

“Let's just get this over with.” Glade said for him, floating down from her perch. She shared Reman's look of mild depression, pack-mates had to put up a uniform front, right?

#@#@#@#@#@#

Carousel Boutique, to Reman, it looked like the tent from that circus he'd seen in Elsweyr. Two ponies were talking inside, mares by the voices, one was easily placed as Rarity, the other seemed familiar, but Reman couldn't put his finger on it. The trio approached to door, and Twilight was kind enough to knock.

“Come in, I'm just about to finish up.” At the seamstresses beckon, the three entered the establishment. Just as Reman expected, full of bits of cloth strewn here and there, measuring tapes of various length, even horse-shaped mannequins. The lycan's eyes focused on the two mares he'd heard speaking earlier: Rarity and another Unicorn, still a child, Sweetie Belle, if Reman recalled correctly.

“Hello, Sweetie Belle,” Glade spoke, before the little Unicorn could get the first word. The attempted distraction failed spectacularly, the filly gazed up at Reman, curious at what he was. Credit should be given to Sweetie Belle, most ponies in town hid from the Imperial.

“Hello, I’m sorry you don't recognize me.” The Imperial knelt to the filly's height, still no reaction of fear from the young one. “I'm Reman.” The filly's eyes widened in amazement and curiousity.

“But, you don't look like him.” Sweetie Belle cocked her head to the side, trying to find the logic in his statement. The Reman she knew walked on four legs and was much more... monstrous. What stood before her now, however, appeared to be some sort of pale, fur-less Diamond Dog.

“Sweetie Belle,” Rarity began, “I think you should go play, outside.” The filly apparently hadn't heard her older sister, she certainly didn't indicate to the contrary. “Sweetie Belle, go outside and play.” Rarity was once again ignored.

“Little filly, I assure you, I am the Reman.” The Imperial said, in a bit of a bragging tone, as though he considered himself something special. Glade knew the case was just the opposite, but that's beside the point.

“Prove it.” Sweetie Belle had been convinced from the beginning. After all, Glade was new, and Twilight walked in with her. By default, that meant the Imperial was, in some way, involved.

“There were eight wolves,” Reman replied. Sweetie Belle ran up to the man, and hugged his leg, it was the only spot she could reach. “It's good to see you, too.” He chuckled and patted the filly's head.

“I didn't know you turned into... this.” Right, Glade had dropped the whole lycan term without explaining what it truly meant. The Imperial realized that Rarity was giving him a look of distrust, which, in Reman's opinion, was a good thing. One should look after their younger siblings.

“I guess I'm just full of surprises.” Reman smiled in a friendly way, an attempt to persuade Rarity to allow the little filly to remain in the room. However, a thought struck him, and made the Imperial change his mind.

“Sweetie Belle, don't you have plans with your friends today?” Rarity asked, by some mercy of the Divines, Sweetie Belle's ears perked up.

“You're right, we were gonna try bear catching at Fluttershy's!” The filly's eyes widened as she remembered. “I have to go!” Out the door she went, without so much as a goodbye. Reman had to give her credit, she could run if she wanted.

“Rarity, I have to thank you for that.” Reman received a quizzical look from the white Unicorn. “I'm here to buy some armor for Glade and myself.” That wasn't much of an explanation.

“Armor? I haven't worked on a suit of armor in months, certainly nothing for a biped.” Rarity appraised the lycans, pondering something that Reman couldn't pin down.

“Can you make them a set each?” Twilight asked, trying to be helpful.

“Of course I can, Twilight.” Rarity giggled as she spoke, finding some humor in her friend's inquiry. “It's just a matter of taking the appropriate measurements.” Rarity gave the Imperial a once-over, the spark of ambition her eyes held didn't escape the man. “Reman will present a delightful change from my usual clientele.”

#@#@#@#@#@#

Reman described what he was looking for, with Glade pitching in adjustments for her set. The Imperial requested something of medium to heavy weight, preferably plated in some hard metal, with a large range of movement. Glade's, of course, was light, and plated only on her torso and the lower portions of her legs, with padded slots for her wings.

It was unfortunate that Equestrian metals were notoriously lightweight. A simple solution was found in something called a shark-suit, by Reman's best guess, it was a type of full-body, tightly woven chainmail. When the Imperial picked up a square of the material, he was pleasantly surprised by its weight, it was firmly in the medium class range. He was almost disappointed that Rarity decided to work on Glade before him.

The process Rarity used was certainly unique, at least to Reman, it may have been common in Equestria for all he knew. Using her magic, the Unicorn lifted several pieces of cloth, Rarity called it Kevlar, sewing the bits together, and bolting the plates onto the article. All of this was done with Glade wearing the ensemble, which Reman found amazing.

However, what Reman found most interesting was far from the Unicorn's art, in truth he was much more interested in the metal being used. The armor's plates were a silvery blue, an alloy that must have been absent on Nirn, as the Imperial had traveled to almost every nation present in Tamriel, and he'd never seen anything like it.

“And... done!” Rarity's words brought the man out of his thoughts. “You were fantastic, darling, perfectly still while I worked.”

“When you have needles flying around, you kinda have to be.” Glade chuckled, two hours had gone into making and balancing the suit, but she hadn't budged an inch. “So, Reman, what do you think?” The lycan mare flourished her wings and spun around, giving her pack-mate a great view of her armored form.

“I think it looks serviceable enough for this expedition.” Reman looked to Rarity, “You're work is wonderful.”

“Thank you, Reman.” Rarity had a bashful smile on her face, after all, that had been the first compliment given by the Imperial. “But it's no trouble, really.”

“Oh, stop being modest,” Reman replied. “You are a master craftsman.” Rarity took his praise to heart as the Imperial inspected Glade's new armor.

“You're just saying that.”

“Rarity,” The Imperial began, “You can do something I can't, whether it's forging or sewing.” The man smiled at the white Unicorn, he'd been right about the eccentric artisan idea of his. He wasn't trying to stroke her ego, not right now, anyway, but he continued his praise. One may find his behavior strange, given his usual attitude towards clothes makers. “Do you think we can start on my set now?”

“Of course, now drop those pants.”