This story is a sequel to Diplomacy by Other Means
When a diplomatic mission to the griffons goes wrong, it falls to the Royal Guard to extract the ambassador and warn Princess Celestia about the upcoming surprise attack. Unfortunately there is only enough time to accomplish one of their tasks.
Done as an entry in the 2013 Equestria Daily Memorial Day Weekend FlashFic event.
A standalone story done two hundred years before the events of To Sleep, Perchance to Dream, Two Unicorns Walk Into a Village and Genealogy (or the mating habits of Nocturnes Pegasi).
A prequel for Diplomacy By Other Means
In memory of the brave men and women of the Bureau of Diplomatic Security who have lost their lives in defense of our citizens overseas, including:
Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens
Sean Smith
Glen Doherty
Tyrone Woods
What a way to go, it's incredibly heart warming in a way too though.
Well done, this story. Tragic, yet heartwarming at the same time.
Surrounded, outnumbered and without any hope of rescue, the guards and embassy staff made the ultimate sacrifice to ensure the Princess would know of the coming invasion. In doing so, they saved the lives of the hundreds of ponies living in towns along the border.
Heroes, each and every one of those ponies. Requiescat in pace.
This was one of those fics that you just gobble up, it was so good. Nice glimpses at worldbuilding without overshadowing the main content of the story, well written emotions.
Really nice worldbuilding (I just love worldbuilding~).
Also, Pumpernickel was awesome and it's so sad to see him gone already.
But a good story and I can't wait to see Diplomacy By Other Means.
Very nice, he lived up to the legacy of his name
The whole "count to five" bit and following banter was a nice bit of comic relief, though the counting-to-eight rejoinder really made me wonder what sort of equipment Pumpernickel and his kin are packing.
I'll be looking forward to DBOM!
Now that was an exit. What a proper Pumpernickel.
2641210 The joke of "count to eight" pertains to the fact that not only do nocturne pegasai have wings (which raises the total count to six when you include the four legs) but because some reptile species have twin male genitelia (and Pumpernickel's kind certainly are part draconic) well... I think you can see where the joke is going.
As for the story itself, it is a grat tale of sacrifice for the greater good. Upvoted and favorited.
For Pumpernickel:
Hmm kinda funny seeing how many people thought it was your main story's Pumpernickle who this was about. Was fairly obvious though that this was past-Pumpernickle. Ah well.
Great writing as always
I only wish there was a way to convey just how powerfully this tale has touched this old Marine's heart. You have captured the soul of the warrior in pure perfection with your masterful work.
Thank you.
Wow. That was beautiful. For a moment I thought Twilight might have some Nocturne in her blood line, but it seems Pumpernickel didn't survive. Alas.
Remarks and corrections:
> The other three pegasi Royal Guard
Should be "The other three [pegasus] Royal [Guards]". If you're unsure, replace with "unicorn"
> and would someday be that way again.
"and [it] would someday be that way again."
> still would not speak of what happened.
Double space after "of".
5912593 Fixed, fixed, and fixed a typo where Morning Glory's coat color changed twice.
This story is a sequel to Diplomacy by Other Means
[...]
A prequel for Diplomacy By Other Means
Which is it?
6129459 Yes.
Ok, that was cheating. It's a side-story that takes place 200 years before Diplomacy by Other Means. It stands by itself, and can be read before or after, depending on how you feel about it.
Dang. Pumpernickel III was a snarky badass.