//------------------------------//
// Party 
// Story: Politics 
// by Dai Kirai 
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3/12/14 5:00pm Ponyville
        Lyra, Equestria’s first anthropologist, her cyan-gray and white striped mane blended in with her mint-green coat, was sitting in the Corner of Applejack’s barn. Her lyre cutie mark seemed funny because she wasn’t able to specialize in music; she loved it of course, but certain situations had prevented her from being able to achieve it. That was when the musician had decided to go into xenobiology and study things that weren’t ponies; which eventually led to her being hunted by changelings and being the emissary to humans when the portal appeared on the outskirts of Ponyville over a year ago.
        Lyra’s best friend was sitting next to her. Bon Bon was a confectioner by trade, making some of the best candies in Ponyville. Her cream colored coat along with her pink and gray-blue mane always reminded Lyra of cotton candy; something she wished Bon Bon would make more of. The candy maker turned her head to Lyra. “Why are you just sitting there?” She asked. “This party is for you too.”
        The party was to celebrate the completion of both the Equestrian Embassy on Earth and the Human Embassy in Equestria. Formal relations had been set up and the next week was to be a public announcement on Earth about the first alien life to be discovered. This party was more of a goodbye than a celebration. Lyra, Rarity and Twilight would be leaving to work at the embassy on Earth the next day. The mint-green mare, as the foremost expert on humans was to be the cultural attaché; her job was to continue her studies and assist their diplomat in her dealings with the humans. 
        “Why don’t you go and spend some time with the other ponies?” Bon Bon asked, not wanting to monopolize the rest of Lyra’s time in Equestria.
        Lyra just laughed, she wasn’t exactly friends with most of the other ponies here, and her work had always had her in the field. The only other ponies here were the bearers of the Elements of Harmony, six ponies that controlled some of the most potent magic in Equestria, saving it numerous times. And while Lyra didn’t hate the Element bearers; she still didn’t get along the greatest with Twilight, their leader. “They need to say goodbye to each other; let them have their private time.” Lyra conceded. She then looked up and grinned; noticing one particular pony missing from the group of mares. “Besides, this is about to get very entertaining.”
        Bon Bon looked back at the group and noticed the missing pony; her jaw dropped. The pink party pony that had wanted to throw a party for the past month was missing. This can’t end well. She thought and started scanning the room looking for potential trouble while Lyra just kept grinning and watching the two human bodyguards at the opposite corner of the building. 
        Avery Anwar, the leader and had yellow hair and gray eyes, was the taller of the two; whereas his partner Victor Sizemore had reddish-brown hair and blue eyes. They both had bronzed skin that had begun to pale because they had spent so much time in the portal research facility while Lyra and her human counterpart exchanged information. Both bodyguards wore suits and as Lyra had learned; both also carried very powerful weapons. And both were about to be scared senseless. 
        “Look up.” Lyra hinted when her friend couldn’t figure out what was so funny. 
        Bon Bon looked up into the rafters of the barn and spotted the missing pony hanging from a beam with a rope wrapped around her midsection. Before Bon Bon could even get out a peep of warning, the bright pink pony dropped right between the two humans. They both jumped back as the falling pink mass passed within inches of their faces. Avery calmed down when he realized it was a pink blur, but Victor looked like he was about to have a heart attack and was reaching for a gun he didn’t bring. ‘There shouldn’t be any threats’ they said ‘The Garrison is just across town they said’ Victor stated to himself, trying to calm down, there were just some things life couldn’t prepare you for. Not even that botched job in Nicaragua.
        As Pinkie Pie fell she quickly stated, “Why don’t you join the party?” And, then she bounced back up on the taught rope, and then fell back between them. “This party is for you too.” 
The yo-yoing pony said as she went back up. Avery rolled his eyes; he had been the one responsible for keeping this one from throwing a party greeting each and every worker into Equestria. Victor’s job had been to keep an eye on the workers to make sure they stayed out of trouble.
        Avery grabbed the rope as Pinkie sped back towards the ground. The bodyguard then held her up to eyelevel while she grinned. “If you want we can play pin the tail on the pony and then have cake, ooohhh I brought some rrreeaaalllyyy good cupcakes today. Mrs. Cake let me bring all of the kumquat cupcakes today-.”
        “Pinkie. Please calm down.” Victor tried to persuade her; never having dealt with the party pony before.
        “-I mean they sell really well, but that could just be because they sound really funny.” 
        “How is she still breathing?” Victor asked, not seeing the pony stop for a breath yet.
        Avery had something pink in his hand and the next time Pinkie opened her mouth really wide, he shoved it in. Her face went from shocked to really calm in an instant. “Ok Pinkie. We will enjoy the party. You can go back to your friends.” With that the keeper of the cupcakes disappeared in a flash.
        Victor stared at his partner. “Did you just assault one of their national heroes?” The shock was apparent in his voice.
        “Relax,” Avery told the man he helped train for one of the toughest jobs on Earth. “That, was on a recommendation from Twilight Sparkle, and is the easiest way of getting her to be quiet.”
        Across the room Lyra was rolling on the hay covered floor, laughing her flank off. Bon Bon tried to give her a stern look, but Lyra’s laughing was contagious and she started to giggle. “Did you have something to do with this?”
        “I wish.” Lyra then became serious and stuck her muzzle up into the air. “But as an official representative of Her Majesty Princess Celestia. I would never impung her reputation.”
        Bon Bon raised an eyebrow at her friend; who could no longer hold her expression and started laughing again. 
“You know. I’m really going to miss you.” Lyra stated to her best friend and then went back to viewing the party going on around them.
“I’m going to miss you, too.” Bon Bon practically whispered and then gave her friend a quick kiss on the cheek. “Make sure to visit.”

Twilight was hanging out with her small group of friends in Applejack’s barn; enjoying her time with them before she had to leave in the morning. At least I will be going with Rarity. Twilight reminded herself. Twilight, Rarity, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy were reminiscing about the dragon that had covered Equestria in a layer of smoke because of his snoring, and how the quiet Fluttershy had finally been able to persuade him to leave. 
Just then a loud crash was heard from outside. “Now what in th’ darn hill-“ Applejack started to ask before being cut off by her white coated friend.
“It’s just the girls playing one last time. Let them have their fun before I have to take Sweetie with me to Earth.” Rarity stated as she heard another crash.
“Tree sap again?” Scootaloo’s voice pierced the walls.
Rarity sighed. So much for having visited the spa yesterday.
“So what’s it like being an ambassador?” Fluttershy asked being more open and forward around her friends.
“I don’t really know yet. Their language is strange and I have only met with a few of the ones here. But they seem nice.” Rarity responded, curious herself what Earth would be like. Celestia had selected her as the diplomat to Earth due to her business experience and as a sign of respect. Her friend Twilight would also be going to help her with the technicalities and with human history.
“Umm, has anybody seen Pinkie Pie?” Twilight asked, remembering the chaos she had caused at the construction site with the humans, and the delays she had caused.
“Yeah, there” Rainbow Dash pointed to the two humans just in time for the other mares to turn around and see Avery shove a cupcake into Pinkie’s mouth. The five mares started to giggle at each other as Pinkie quickly hurried over. 
“Who wants to play pin the tail on the pony?”

Lyra didn’t know what to think. She had never been kissed before; never even had the time to think about it.
“Just give me a response when you return.” Bon Bon smiled. “Besides, it looks like you have another friend coming to wish you well. 
As Lyra looked towards the door, two humans were walking in. One a male and the other a female. The male was about six foot tall with creamish-alive skin and brown hair. He was familiar to Lyra and was the human she had been dealing with for most of the time. He was sent initially to learn Equestrian and to facilitate diplomacy between the two sides and just like the other two was never seen outside of his suit. The woman was someone completely new to her though. She was about six inches shorter than the male and had pale-cream colored skin and jet black hair, but she was wearing a t-shirt and some sort of cotton pants. If only Rarity could see this.
As the pair came over Lyra reflected on what she had done to him. I wish I could have warned him, but if he knew the plan to designate him as ambassador, he never would have shown up. But, his face on hearing the news was priceless. The mare grinned, seeing his shock. And, then the disagreement over it between the Princess’ and the President. “Who’s the friend” she asked.
“Lyra, this is Aiko.” Anthony informs his pony friend. “She’s an Army MP.”
“Nice to meet you.” Lyra bowed her head slightly. “What is it you do around here?”
“It’s nice to meet you, Lyra.” Aiko stated. “I will be in charge of security.”
“Security?” Lyra asked. “But aren’t Victor and Avery in charge of security?”
“They are in charge of the Embassy’s security. Basically making sure all the other guards do what they are supposed to do.” Aiko informed the green pony. “I will be in charge of the Ambassador’s personal security. Making sure that he doesn’t come under attack and will oversee the security at his domicile.”
“Yeah, I saw that place. Looks like a small mansion. It definitely looks nicer than the Embassy.” Lyra scoffed, talking about the large grey square next to the research facility. “Why’s it so big anyway?”
“The bottom floor is for clerical and support staff, the top two floors are for specialty services and housing for the workers since they have to live in the Embassy.” Anthony informed her.
“And the basement?” Lyra had been watching how that ugly building was constructed and knew that there were in fact two basements, but not their purpose.
Anthony was stunned and had no response. Thankfully for Lyra’s curiosity, Aiko supplied the answer. “That is a gun range so the marines in charge of security can get their practice in. I’m sure you remember the last time you had someone discharge their weapon for show. This is to prevent the complaints that incident caused.”
Lyra grinned, remembering perfectly well wanting to see what a gun could do once she figured out what it was. And the irate personal student of Celestia’s that then yelled at her for it. “Point taken.” After thinking for a second, the anthropologist had another question. “What’s your last name? According to my research humans have at least two names.”
“My last name is Marcus.” The MP replied, neither knowing nor caring about the question.
“Oh! Are you his sister then?” Lyra inquired. Too which Bon Bon facehoofed, not believing how dense her friend was.
“Do we look like brother and sister?” Aiko asked icily.
“Well…” Lyra had to think for a moment. “You two are very similarly colored, more so than a lot of ponies I know of that are related. Have you seen Twilight and her brother or Applejack and her brother?”
Anthony didn’t know whether to grin or grimace at their conversation. “She’s my wife. We’ve been married for eleven years. We met in high school and again in college.” He informed the oblivious mare. “I think we are going to go mingle some.” The diplomat informed Lyra; wanting to defuse the situation.
“Ok. And Aiko. If you are looking for a sparring partner talk to either the blue one or the orange one.” Lyra stated, pointing to the six mares all talking to each other, as the humans walked off.
Bon Bon looked at her friend incredulously. “Did you have to antagonize them so much?”
Lyra turned back to her friend, expression serious. “Because you can tell a lot about a human by how they react when mad.”

        President Tow was sitting at her wooden desk back in the oval office, finally able to relax for a few minutes. Both embassies are finished and ready to be manned. Operation ‘Icarus’ was completed just before handing the Groom Lake facility for dual ownership and shutting down parts of Area 51. And that damned Texan is finally cooperating.

12/21/13 3:00pm EST Meeting Between President Margarette Tow and the Senate Oversight Committee, Earth
        “Good day Madam President.” Senator Stephen Brent greeting. “I’m afraid we have a few concerns about this project ‘Equus’ that you have been keeping close watch over. It appears to have gone over budget without producing any results.”
        President Tow hid her grin and kept her glee from her green eyes. She was wearing her trademark black suit with red accents that helped to accentuate her red hair. She had been planning this meeting for months. The President knew that Brent had his sources and had been told about several aspects she had tried to keep hidden. The builders and engineers working on the Embassy were sequestered in Equestria until they finished their project, which had the effect of keeping the news of aliens out of the press. But, there had still been scuttlebutt that was passing around the Armed Forces lately; no amount of caution could keep it hidden forever though. 
        “Yes, I’m afraid that several new buildings were required for the project to move forward.”
        “Yes, we have seen the images of the new buildings; some of them look rather ‘unique’ for strategic purposes.” The Texas Senator accused, talking about the houses that the ponies had been building on the salt flat in Nevada. “And, there have been reports of a treaty signing without Congressional notification to ratify it. Or, the fact that this project went through two years of funding in eight months. Or, that it looks like you are unilaterally trying to shut down Area 51.”
        There was no way for Tow to know exactly how much Brent knew. It was obvious that he had a source, but there was no way to figure out who it was or why. The financing could have been from checking the accounts that were open to review. “Crews were needed to work around the clock to finish the new Embassy in seven months; which was a result of the new treaty.” President Tow enticed. “As for notifying congress to ratify the new treaty; that wasn’t required. The President of the United States is allowed to make treaties on her own.” She had a hard time controlling her grin. Trap is set.
        “A new Embassy?” Senator Brent was starting to turn red. “And you failed to even announce opening relations with a country that has since been hostile to us? And then kept all of this a secret from Congress?”
        That shade of red goes really well with his close cut blonde hair and portly stature. Tow admired. “To be fair, we have never had relations with them before; they are a rather new society. And Area 51 is useless without the salt flat which was also handed over in the treaty.” She was going to let him stew a little bit more, but decided against that plan. The point is to get him to over-react and lose some face, but not enough where he can’t be used.
        President Tow turned to one of her Secret Service Agents, a rather intimidating example of height and muscles. “Agent Reed, can you hand them the files please?” As she spoke, the agent stepped forward and placed a manila envelope in front of each of the five senators. She watched as their faces slowly went from mocking, to shock and to disbelief before she decided to speak. “As you can see, the explosion that resulted from the Alcubierre Drive created an anomaly that connected our world with one known as Equestria. Their society is based off of magic and the most advanced life form is similar to Earth ponies. Now if you would have preferred making all of this public eight months ago; just say so. But this allowed the United States to set up relations before any other country.”
        Brent seemed to consider it a moment; he was weighing his options and trying to predict how his supporters would move with any decision he made. “But, to sell the Groom Lake Facility and to decommission most of Area 51 seems rather brash. What did you sell it for?”
        “We also have some territory there, it was a fair trade. If we were to deny them free entry through the void, it could seem like an act of aggression. Area 51 was already being slowly decommissioned because of the high profile it has received, this simply sped it up. Besides, would you have a fully staffed military base right next to a foreign embassy? Think what that would cause to happen in places like Iran or Russia.” President Tow informed her adversary. “As for the gems, it was eighteen of these.” She pulled out one small green gem the size of a pebble.
        “You traded all of that for eighteen small gems?” He bellowed. “When the public finds out, you will be impeached.”
        Checkmate! She thought. Your supporters just saw you yell and threaten the President of the United States, as long as this goes like it’s supposed to…
        “Did I say these were just gems?” The president intoned, lifting the hand with the gem in it, before sending the gem hurling into the ground. As the gem hit the ground, a small fracture formed along its side. An instant later the magic stored and structured in the gem was released in a bright flash that blinded the unsuspecting Senators; allowing the President to truly smile for a moment at her triumph. “Yes. Eighteen of those. Different ones.”

3/12/14 6:00pm Oval Office, Washington D.C.
        President Tow’s face turned serious. Thank God the gems I got from Celestia contained instructions and none were weapons. This should keep his wheels spinning for some time. Not to mention trying to regroup his support. She couldn’t afford to tell anyone about the three CIA Special Activities Operation’s officers under cover at the Embassy in Equestria. But, she had to tell them her plans; most of them anyway. Now to prepare for the press release next week.