//------------------------------// // Chapter 002: The Grand Galloping Gala // Story: Ultimate Equestria // by Leo Pachino //------------------------------// The following first hours of the Grand Galloping Gala at the Canterlot Castle ran smoothly, with Twilight, her friends, and their plus-ones each finding their place within the thriving castle. Most of the massive chambers the large palace was made of were filled to the brim with nobles with vast wealth, delegates from every corner of the world, high ranking political figures, and every celebrity of every species, shape, and size known to the common ponies, all chatting with each other and enjoying the night. They were served with traditional music, gourmet foods, and only the most refined drinks, all of which had hundreds of years to be perfected. However, the room with arguably the most activity was the ballroom. With a bright full moon and thousands of stars able to be seen from its open walls, and the entire circular three-story room suspended over the cliffside city of Canterlot like a massive balcony, it was no surprise. Guests danced in the open center of the first floor as the guests of the upper two floors watched from their balconies. At the back of the uppermost floor was Twilight, standing next to her princess companions, Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, and Princess Cadence. The four regal mares watched the festivities below peacefully, enjoying their view with the moonlight illuminating the ballroom. “I must say Luna,” The white princess proclaimed. “Your work with the moon is perfect. The light is at a perfect angle.” “Thank you sister,” The black mare replied. “It took several nights, but I managed to work it out.” “Twilight,” Celestia said, turning to the purple alicorn. “Yes, Princess Celestia?” Twilight responded, turning her head. “How have things been going in Ponyville?” Celestia then asked. “Nothing really eventful has happened over the past few months, just the usual really.” “I see. And how about you, Cadence?” “Same here,” The pink princess, Princess Cadence, answered. “Well, except for the preparations of the Diamond Eye.” “Speaking of which,” Twilight interrupted. “When are you going to show it?” “It’s all set in the next room downstairs. I’m just waiting for this last song to finish.” Cadence replied. “Are you excited?” Twilight asked, her ears perking up. “Yes, the diamond so beautiful. And with the moonlight at this angle, it’ll look even more beautiful when I reveal it.” “I bet it will be.” “Excuse me,” a stallion’s thick accented voice called out from behind the four princesses. They looked back and saw it was a guest. A thin blue pegasus in a tuxedo, it was evident, he was a very important pony. “Ah yes,” Celestia replied. “Sir Garrison Valkyrie, Ambassador of Cervidas. How may I help you?” “Pardon my intrusion,” the stallion spoke. “But the king and queen of Cervidas wanted to warn you of some upcoming economic troubles and possible future threats to security of your kingdom.” “Oh dear, please do.” Oh no… Twilight thought to herself. A similar thing had happened during the last Grand Galloping Gala. What was supposed to be regular conversation between guest and host turned to a political lecture. Twilight could barely stand the drawl, especially when its stuff she had fully understood. Regardless though, Twilight put on a smile, and tried to listen to the ambassador. The stallion’s lecture begun, “Over the recent five years, the crime rates have skyrocketed at Cervidas and surrounding kingdoms. This has mainly been influenced by pirate attacks.” “Pirates?” Celestia asked, a tad confused. “Absolutely, 100%.” The ambassador confirmed. “Even the landlocked ones?” Princess Celestia then asked. “Especially the landlocked ones. Reports are vague, but they all seem to describe some type of large sea vessel that flies. It may sound ridiculous, but these rumours our only leads, and coastal cities report the same anomaly originating from ocean waters. Thus they are all classified as pirate attacks.” “My that’s-” “And must I remind you and how that affects our economic systems and inflation? Two-thousand years ago, there was only a one percent yearly inflation rate. A thousand years later, it increased a percent. Five hundred years after that, it grew another to three percent. These pirate attacks are estimated to exponentially increase that rate to unhealthy levels. And that’s just inflation. I have so much to inform you. There are also factors such as taxes, gross domestic production, employment, standard of living, debt, government payments, media coverage, income…” Oh no, Twilight thought to herself as the words of the middle-aged ambassador rung in her ears, this is going to be a long night. I’m going to have to tolerate this if I’m going to represent Equestria as a princess. Maybe this music will end as Cadence will be able to cut him off to present the Diamond Eye. When will this music end anyways? Meanwhile outside the castle, in the middle of the royal gardens, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, and Spike were all gathered together by a fountain, each with bored looks on their faces. “This party blows.” Rainbow Dash moaned. “I hate to admit it,” Pinkie Pie replied. “But you’re right. The dancing is so slow and all the ponies here just talk about politics and big words I don’t understand.” “And these dresses are itchy,” Applejack added, scratching at her belly. “Or is it just me?” “This kind of reminds me of our first Grand Galloping Gala, before havoc ensued.” Fluttershy said. “I just hope that Applebloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo are having fun on their own.” Applejack said. “They’re in pretty dresses at a royal party. Of course they’ll be excited. I guess the charm’s worn off for us it seems.” Pinkie solemnly declared. “Maybe,” Spike replied. “Why aren’t you with Twilight anyways?” Rainbow asked. Spike answered, “The ballroom she’s in has a section reserved for the princesses and specific guests. I don’t qualify so I decided to just hang around somewhere else until I got bored.” “Ouch.” Dash replied. “Meh, I don’t mind, I understand.” “I’ve just noticed. Where is Rarity?” “Probably in her little euphoria with some of the guests here,” Applejack answers. “Perhaps the ‘charm’ hasn’t run out on her.” Pinkie Pie then exclaimed, “Hey! Maybe we can play ‘I Spy’.” “Sure,” Spike replied, “That’ll pass the time until something interesting happens.” “Okay, I spy with my little eye… something that is tall.” Pinkie said. “The castle?” Rainbow Dash asked. “Correct! Your turn,” “Okay. I spy… something itchy.” Rainbow Dash said. “Applejack!” Pinkie yelled. “Correct.” “Yay!” “Oh ha, ha.” Applejack sarcastically muttered. “You try wearin’ this hunk of sandpaper.” “Okay, my turn.” Pinkie declared. “I spy with my cutesy little eye… something brown.” “Brown?” Spike asked, confused. “Yep.” Pinkie nodded. “The dirt?” Applejack asked. “Nope,” “A tree?” Fluttershy asked. “Warmer…” “Warmer?” Rainbow Dash responded. “Hmmm…” Dash took a moment to examine Pinkie’s eyes. She saw that they are looking off into the middle of the sky in a much squinted manner. “My eyes are blue, so you’re getting colder…” Pinkie tsked at Rainbow Dash. “What are you even looking at? Some rock in space?” Dash asked. “Nope,” “We give up,” Applejack proclaimed. “What is it?” “An ominous airship heading right at us,” Pinkie said, pointing into the night. “A what?” The mares and Spike quickly gathered around Pinkie Pie as they looked to where she’ was looking. “I don’t see anything…” Applejack said aloud. “See that dark spot in the sky, the one without any stars?” Pinkie asked. The four others squinted tightly at the starry sky and eventually saw the dark spot. “I see it!” Dash exclaimed. “It’s a little brown, black, and… green?” As the mysterious dark spot grows, a very faint green glow surrounds the brown bottom half of the thing. “What is it?” Dash asked. “I told you, an airship.” Pinkie answered, still in her cheery tone. “There are no such things as ships that fly on air,” Applejack retorted. “Then what do you call that, silly?” Drawing closer, the dark figure soon formed into visible shapes in the observers’ visions. “It is a ship.” Fluttershy mumbled. “A very… big and scary ship… that’s flying without magic,” “Yep,” Pinkie nodded. “Hey, Dash,” Spike nervously spoke. “Could you maybe fly up there and get a closer look at it?” “Well… I can try.” Dash said, taking a gulp of air. “Be careful.” “…And with that all said and done. Let’s move on to how the concepts of income have been changing.” Nooo! Twilight screamed internally. How do Celestia, Luna, and Cadence not go insane after this much talking? How does this music keep on going? And how does this ambassador keep talking after just one glass, a fancy thin glass! The music in the room soon starts to die down, much to Twilight’s relief. “Excuse me sir,” Cadence spoke, interrupting the ambassador’s lecture. “I have to present the Diamond Eye now. Perhaps we can continue later.” “I see,” the stallion calmly replied. “Proceed. In fact, I want to accompany you.” “Oh, that won’t be necessary-” “Please do!” Twilight accidentally shouted. She quickly caught her tongue before continuing, “It would be good for the citizens of Cervidas to hear a close up report on the diamond.” “…I guess so. Follow me, Garrison.” As the two ponies shuffled out the back door, Cadence looked back at the relieved Twilight and gave a sharp stare in return, one that immediately translated in Twilight’s head. You owe me, Twilight translated. “Well,” Twilight proclaimed. “That was quite a-uh… An interesting lesson,” “Stupid Cervidasian bigwigs,” Celestia grumbled. “Always thinking we can’t run a kingdom. If I could, I would certainly take their thick scrolls on politics this stallion reads from, roll them up sideways, and shove them-” “Ease sister,” Luna calmly beckoned. “It’s just a couple days a year we deal with them. And they’re all not so bad-” “Oh shut up, you want to do the same thing.” Celestia retorted. “Yeah, I would.” “Hmph, stupid lot of them.” “So, Celestia,” Twilight nervously asked. “Are you excited for the presentation of the Diamond Eye?” “Huh? Oh, yes.” Celestia replied. “Shush,” Luna barked. “It’s time.” With the final note of the dancing music fading away and the dancers retreating to their seats at the edge of the room, a finely dressed staff member walked to the center of the chamber . “Mares and gentlecolts, ponies, griffons, yaks, and all other great species of the world,” the grey stallion proclaimed. “It is my honour to announce to you, her royal majesty of the Crystal Empire, Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, and her unveiling of the Diamond Eye.” A large pedestal with a large blue cloth covering the top then hovered in from the unseen parts of the first floor and onto the center of the ballroom in a pink, glowing aura. The magic aura died down as Princess Cadence gracefully walked up to it and began to circle it. “Welcome everypony,” she announced to the onlookers. “This artifact was found a year ago shortly after the re-foundation of the Crystal Empire, several metres beneath the ice and snow of the Crystal Mountains. This gemstone is an absolute wonder in its design, construction, disappearance, and purpose, in that it’s a complete mystery. However, one of the few things we know about it, is that it is a symbol, a symbol of the rich culture of the Crystal Empire that thrived thousands of years ago and continues to now. And now, without future ado, allow me to present,” With a flick of her horn, the blue cloth gently hovered off of the pedestal and fell to the floor, revealing the artifact on top of the while pillar. “The Diamond Eye!” “Whoa!” Twilight exclaimed. Oohs and aahs erupted from the audience as they gazed upon the Diamond Eye. It was a large, clear half-circle gemstone, with a jagged edge along its diameter. Mysterious symbols and patterns could be seen either engraved into the crystal or were bevels sticking out from its flat surface. With the moonlight beaming into the crystal, these engravings and bulges projected onto the walls of the ballroom, causing more roars of awe to wake. “Any questions about the Diamond Eye?” Princess Cadence asked. “How much is it worth?” A mare from the second floor called out. “In its current condition, five-hundred million bits, but that’s merely for its physical value. In all truth, it’s priceless.” Cadence answered. “Where’s the other half?” A stallion on the first floor asked. “We don’t know, but the search it active.” “Any idea on what those markings mean?” Another stallion on the first floor yelled. “It is a very ancient language that’s been dead for hundreds of years. We aren’t certain.” “Do you have any current hypothesis on what its purpose was?” Luna loudly asked. “Well, we have a few theories.” Cadence reassured Luna. “It could have been a monument to somepony, a decoration, or even possibly a doctrine or creed of some kind. Any more questions?” “Yes,” a mare on the first floor asked. “What’s that thing outside coming towards us?” “What?” The pink princess turned around to saw a rainbow coloured blur outside one of the openings, charging right at her. She ducked as the mysterious figure flew right over her and brutally crashed into the closed door ahead. Twilight asked herself upon seeing the crash, “Was that… Rainbow Dash?” In a pair of flashes of light, Twilight teleported herself next to Cadence and approached the figure. “Rainbow Dash?!” She exclaimed. Immediately, the figure revealed herself as Rainbow Dash and frantically ran up to Twilight. “Bad! Bad! Bad!” The pegasus hollered, shivering. Dash’s pupils were shrunken into pinpoints. “Rainbow! What’s going on?” Twilight asked, growing more worried. “P-p-p-p-p-p-pi-pi-p-p-p-” “Spit it out!” “P-pi-p-pirates!” “Wha-” All of a sudden, a series of explosions blasted along the outside walls, shaking the entire ballroom. Screams erupted and ponies scrambled around the chamber in terror. Stone and rubble fell from the ceilings and walls and onto the floor as the chaos ensues. Another volley of explosions erupted against the castle. Several went off inside the room. The room faded into darkness with the only light being a faint green hue coming from outside. “What the hay is going on?” Twilight asked. “They’re right outside!” Dash screamed. Twilight looked back to the outside, only to see a wall of dark brown planks of wood with small grooves, glowing the faint green glow. A line of black cylinders could be seen poking out of the wall of wood, emitting thick smoke. “Cannons?” The chaos and havoc continued with seemingly no end as screams and hollers filled the air. Twilight knew there is no hope in calming them down. After a long while of panic though, the screams of terror were cut short by a loud group of laughs echoing from the wall of cannons. A long wooden plank then dropped down from the top of the glowing wall, one end landing at the edge of the ballroom and the other tied to the wall. Now, frozen stiff in fear, the onlookers inside the castle watched as a line of shadowy figures walked from the wooden barrier, down the plank, and into the ballroom, clustering around the edge of the plank. “Well, well, well…” A young stallion’s voice called out from the top of the wall. “If it isn’t the Diamond Eye,” “Who are you? What’s going on? I want an explanation now! If this is an invasion, prepare to get your flank kicked!” Twilight roared. “Don’t fret. I have no quarrels with you. I’d be happy to explain what’s going on.” “Who are you?” “Allow me to introduce myself.” Metal steps were then heard as the mysterious pony walked down the plank. Reaching the floor of the castle room, he made his way up to Twilight. The purple mare’s horn glowed and revealed the stallion in the bright light of her horn. He had a dark brown coat of fur that nearly matches the color of the wood outside. His mane and tail are a mess of jet black hair, looking as if it hasn’t been cut nor styled in years, yet somehow looks proper and neat. He walked on his hind legs without any sign of strain, with his front hooves swinging back in forth in tune with his motion. On the left side of his face was an icy blue eye staring dead straight at Twilight, while on the right side, he wore an eye patch that covered his other eye. A scar peeked from the top and bottom of the black patch. His hooves each has what appears to be a silvery, metal shoe, with five spikes protruding from them over the front of his limbs. Connecting to these shoes were long connections of copper gears, pistons, and other pieces of mechanical parts that stretched along the sides of his limbs and into the back. He wore a black metal battle harness on the upper part of his torso with a sickly blue and green light originating from the center circular buckle piece and through small grooves engraved in the straps wrapping around his entire barrel, similar to the lights of the wall. Around his back was a large black cape that stretched down to the floor, its corners trailing and dragging against the wood. “What the…” Twilight muttered in terror as the abnormal pony towered over her, smiling. Stopping only a few centimetres away, the bipedal stallion spread his front hooves apart, displaying himself triumphantly. “I am the terror of earth, sea, and air. I am the greatest pirate captain. I am Korsan…”