Chapter Text
Private journal of Napoleon Bonaparte (formerly Napolum Ebony). Day 2,964 of exile.
It has been more than eight years since I was overthrown by the resistance led by the ones name Godzilla and Princess Luna. My exile here is more comforting than the ones I spent on Elba and St. Helena, as the ponies have a honest care for my welfare unlike the British and her allies. They make sure I am well feed and medically healthy on a daily ordeal. They are friendly to their former emperor and treat me with the utmost respect. Sometimes I forget that I'm no longer the emperor while I live here on this island. I learned that this place once belong to someone called the Storm King. From what I have learned about this Storm King and his defeat, he didn't seem to be much of a serious threat to the ponies of Equestria.
***
Napoleon decided to end the entry there for now. He took a sip of his red wine and went to the balcony of his residents on the Storm King's island. While there wasn't much vegetation on the island due to the rocky terrain, he found a settling peace from the waves on the beach and the singing birds that resided on the island with him. Taking in a breath of the sea air, he looked at his watch.
"Ah, time for my daily afternoon walk," he said.
Putting on his jacket and hat, Napoleon began his walk. His walks were a daily routine for everypony on the island. He would walk along the beaches on the island, stopping now and again for a brief ten minute breather before continuing. He did this twice a day, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. It would last for one or two hours.
Upon his return, he was met by his overseer, Isom Sentry.
"Your dinner is ready," Isom said.
Napoleon smelled the food from the door. "So it is."
After dinner, he sat down in his living room and stared at the fireplace in deep thought. Isom sat across from him.
"What are you thinking, general?" Isom asked.
"I think it is time I told the truth," Napoleon said.
"What truth?"
"The truth that you won't find in the records of my reign. Why I rose to power when I did."
"You did it because of what happened to Leyte Justice over two thousand years ago."
Napoleon raised his hoof and shook his head. "There was another thing. Something I did not anticipate. Something that made me change my plans and take over Equestria sooner than I wanted to."
"And what was it?" Isom asked.
”How much time do you have?”
”All the time in the world.”
Napoleon nodded silently. “Good. This is my story.”
***
Twenty-eight years ago, in the 30th year of Twilight Sparkle's reign, three months before the night of conquest
Napoleon, going under the name Napolum Ebony, and his generals watched as the army that they built for years doing their daily drills, ranging from troop movements to artillery practice. They did this complete secrecy in the desert south of Ponyville.
"Another six months of this," he told his generals. "We'll be ready to conquer the kingdom before next summer."
"Aye, sir," the generals said.
"General," a young private said. "There is someone who wishes to speak with you."
Napoleon nodded. He went to his tent and noticed a cloaked figure sitting on the opposite side of his desk. He sat down in his chair and there was a moment of silence.
"Whatever you need to say, say it quickly," he said.
"What I say, you must heed every word of it," the stranger said. "Your majesty."
Napoleon sat up when he was addressed as 'your majesty'.
"I know who you are, Napoleon Bonaparte, and what you will soon become."
"Who are you?"
"That is not important. What is is what I will tell you. Unless you conquer Equestria before the end of the year, the land will experience hundreds of years of darkness."
"What do you mean?"
"You must be ready before the tenth year of your reign as emperor, when the threat will rise up against you."
"Who or what is this threat?"
"You will know it when it happens."
The stranger got up, bowed, and walked out.
Napoleon sat in silence, contemplating what the stranger had told him. He bolted up and went to his generals, who were still overlooking the drills.
"At dawn tomorrow, we move out," he said. "After three months have passed by, we strike."
"Three months?" one of the generals said in confusion. "But you said they weren't ready yet."
"I am aware of that. However, time is against us. If we don't do this sooner rather than later, this whole endeavor will be all for nothing."
"Has something happened?"
"No, but it will happen. And when it does, we must be ready for that too."
***
Six months later, Canterlot, coronation day of Napolum Ebony
Within three months, Napoleon had done what nopony else had ever done in Equestria's history. He conquered the whole land in a single night and now ruled over everything. It took another three months to prepare himself for his coronation.
Dressed in royal robes, he walked gracefully down the hall to the altar. He knelt down and remained unmoved as a royal officer of the court proceeded with the coronation. However, before the officer could lift up the royal crown, Napoleon stood up and took the crown in his hooves, raising it above his head. Everypony gasped at the sight, as they had no idea that this would happen.
"I found the crown of Equestria in the gutter," Napoleon said. "I picked it up with my hooves, cleaned it, and placed it atop my own head."
Napoleon placed the crown on his head, but because he wore a golden laurel like the one he had when he was coronated as the emperor of France, he didn't wear it and quietly placed the crown back on the altar. He faced the crowd and raised his right hoof.
"I swear to maintain the integrity of the territories of Equestria, to respect and enforce respect for everypony of this empire, their rights and liberties alike. To not raise any tax except in virtue of the law; to maintain and govern in the sole interest, happiness, and glory of the ponies of Equestria. This is my oath to you, now and forever.”
”Thus, it is with great honor to present to one and all his majesty, Emperor Napolum of Equestria,” the officer proclaimed. “Crowned and enthroned. LONG LIVE THE EMPEROR!”
"LONG LIVE THE EMPEROR!" the crowd proclaimed four times over.