//------------------------------// // Post Common Era Chapter Twenty-five/War of Stars Chapter Twenty-one: Earth Part Two, A Pathetic Attempt // Story: The Lunar Knight's Willow Leaf // by Moonlit Novel //------------------------------// Author's Notes: Thanks to Deadinlight for beta-reading and helping me edit Post Common Era Chapter Twenty-five/War of Stars Chapter Twenty-one: Earth Part Two, A Pathetic Attempt “Yes, I do, my liege. The council was surprised by your announcement that you were coming to Earth, a few of them wanted to try to set some traps here so that you would be stuck here after the official thank you had been given” said the earth pony and Masao nodded assuming as much. “And what did the rest think of their plans?” asked Masao as he looked out the window in their sixteenth story hotel room, he currently was with Princess Luna, and Willow Leaf… - - - Shadow Eyes and Sunrise Lily were in awe at their room, they were surprised at the amount of tech the human’s seemed to have, it was different in comparison to the technology that the ponies had, they used screens instead of holoviewers for watching things, but they did have from what the system that utilized holograms, but instead of actual people they were artificial intelligence, and they could touch them. The two mares however decided to revel in the fact they were no longer hiding their relationship, as they cuddled there was a knock at their door… - - - “Ah, Shadow Eyes, nice of you and your marefriend to join us” said Masao as Celestia’s gaze suddenly zeroed in on Sunrise Lily who was suddenly bashful scuffing the ground not meeting her teacher’s gaze. “I see… I trust you are being kind to one another?” asked the solar princess over the comms and Sunrise looked at the princess in shock, she hadn’t expected her teacher to be alright with her hiding the relationship, be fine with the relationship, sure, but with the hiding? “We are princess” said Sunrise and Celestia nodded a small smile on her face before she turned to Masao and Luna and resumed talking about the current state of affairs on Equis. “I’m sure that the Crystal Empire will calm themselves soon.” “My Sunshine, I think we should—” “Don’t think about leaving, you two, we are almost done, and then we are going to be heading for the Council’s chambers” said Willow Leaf an apologetic smile on her face, Shadow Eyes blushed lightly as she pointedly kept from facing Willow Leaf… - - - “Good you are all here. Personally, prince, I would thank them and leave as soon as it is acceptable to do so, some of the council, IE the ones that were trying to think of a way to get you to stay, are planning something” “Should I worry about Shadow Eyes and Sunrise Lily?” asked Masao as he straightened his collar and Minder Three clenched his jaw as he realized that the two mares were prime targets to force Masao to stay. “Don’t worry about them, love, we’ll keep them out of trouble” said Luna as she used her magic to fix what Masao had messed up. “Now just worry about doing your part so we can go home” - - - “Presenting, his highness, Prince Masao Darkheart, Prince of Equestria, and his wives, Princess Luna, and Princess Willow Leaf.” stated a crier and Masao rolled his eyes as he walked into the Council’s building, it reminded him, at least the inside, of the Federation Council’s building from Star Trek, frowning a bit he walked further when the crier spoke up again, “Presenting Shadow Eyes, student of Prince Masao, and Sunrise Lily, student of Princess Celestia, not accompanying.” Masao’s frown grew, it made sense that they knew who he was, and who his wives were, he had not exactly been secretive about that, but he did not reveal the fact Sunrise was the student of Celestia’s. Someone had been talking, or they had their rooms bugged, something he figured was likely a given that they had never been to Earth before. “How did they know I was Celestia’s student?” asked Sunrise quietly and Masao grimaced as she nuzzled Shadow Eyes for comfort, the mare felt uncomfortable with the fact something that they had not personally revealed was known to them, allies or not, though they were not allies yet. “They likely have their own spies on Equis now” said Masao as he hung back to talk with the two lovers and Shadow Eyes tilted her head in confusion. “Why would they have spies on Equis? Isn’t Equestria their ally?” asked the dark mage and Masao sighed and motioned for Willow Leaf and Luna to move ahead and save them a few seats, this could take a while… Masao tried to explain the fact that though they had sent aid to them when they were invaded, they were not, in fact allied with the humans of the UEC, though Masao and Twilight were working towards that goal, and that the UEC now had an embassy in Equestria, there was still a long way to go before they could reasonably say they were truly allied with the humans, not that their actions would say anything less. “So they are going to ally with us, right? I mean they have their forces in our capital city!” said Shadow Eyes and Sunrise shifted uncomfortably while Masao regarded them a small smile on his lips. “I certainly hope so” - - - “Greetings Prince Masao, nice of you to finally grace our world with your presence” said a portly woman and Masao blinked lazily at her tone, which her tone suggested that he thought himself better than the rest of them. Masao and Luna were in a room surrounded by ‘the council’ and the council was enshadowed as not to give away their faces. “Hello, I guess it is nice to be here, though I will admit I would rather be home working with the restoration efforts” said Masao, he prefered to work with soldiers there was no niceties to be dealt with and no hoops to jump through. “What my husband means is he is thankful to be here” said Luna as she glared at Masao who sighed in response, but nodded. “I am thankful that you haven’t tried anything yet, that is true, Minder Three told me about how some of you had plans to try and force me to stay” said Masao before Luna could stop him and she facehoofed, Masao seemed bound and determined to cause an incident. The council members shifted uncomfortably at the accusation but didn’t dispute it which was cause for concern, didn’t they know that forcing him to stay would kill any goodwill that they had built with Equestria? - - - “Would the pretty horse—” “We’re ponies, and no thank you, we are fine” said Shadow Eyes as she brushed off a seedy looking man, the man had been trying to sell them rather attractive looking wares, however Minder Three had been very explicit about the fact they shouldn’t buy from anyone on the streets, especially not without him present to verify whether the vendor was legit. “Are you sure? I am sure I have something that would suit your tastes” said the man as he held up a necklace that seemed to be made for her species and Shadow Eyes gave him a deadpanned look, clearly not amused. “Listen, I am blind, so you showing me things isn’t going to help” she said and she heard the clink of something almost being put into her saddlebag only for her to use her magic to place it back on the vendor's table. “Blind does not mean I can not hear. Now if you will excuse me, I have to be going, my marefriend is waiting for me” said the annoyed mare as she trotted off the vendor gritted his teeth, such a simple job foiled? Seriously? All he had to do was get her arrested, and then the council could bargain for this Prince Masao to stay! “I saw what you did, bad form, especially towards visiting dignitaries, and I assume you don’t have a license to peddle these wares” said an MP who was under the orders of one General Harmon, the same general that promised to get Prince Masao home, and considering the Council Building was a strategic military location, the MPs had jurisdiction. At least according the the UEC charter… - - - “I’m sorry that my colleagues seem to feel it is necessary to force you to stay longer than necessary. You came here for a reason, and I, for one, would rather we get that done” said a lean man as he sat back in his chair, he had been one of the few that had been vocal against forcing humans to return to Earth with the exceptions of a few rare cases...