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// 45 - Developments 
// Story: Fading Suns: A New World 
// by David Silver 
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Life had become busy for Laud. The cement and pavement had arrived, which required the ship lift up off the landing site so it could be made ready for more permanent visits from the ships it would house. Its early landing had been a good lesson to the construction crew, who felt they could adjust things and make a pad that would serve the job.

Laud coordinated between them and Paul to keep things on a schedule. The ship would go back into orbit for a time. Paul seemed confident enough that he could make do with the detachment of men he had. Ponyville did not seem to  be too dangerous of a location to need more than that.

With that settled, and the dock being worked on, Paul pulled Laud aside. "What happened?"

"With what?"

Paul shook his head slowly. "We've been distracted with other matters, but the way that unicorn was moving... You say they were humans, and I'm starting to believe you. They have all the same expressions, when it doesn't involve their ears or tails. She had come to propose something a bit more severe than friendship forever." He made a gesture as if handing a plate to Laud. "I have the feeling these ponies would do that quite casually."

Laud put up his hands, palms facing Paul. "Look, we talked about it, once. She wasn't interested then, and this time, a candy friendship bracelet."

"She said 'You don't have a horn to put this on.' How large was this friendship bracelet?" He leaned in close to Laud. "I'm going to guess it was a bit larger than what one might slide onto a unicorn's horn."

Laud tensed. He hadn't even noticed that, so swept up in handling the situation. "It was quite large..."

"Too large to have such a small box?"

Laud felt his insides coiling. "It was almost comical how large it was in that little box." He turned away suddenly. "Because she swapped it for the ring that had been in there originally."

"Precisely so." Paul put a hand at his hip. "Your lady friend got cold feet at the last minute. I'd think she was a clever thief, but I suspect their magic is to blame."

"Right, but even if we assume that's true--" He turned back to face Paul. "--She didn't propose. She decided not to. That's the end of that."

"I can't force you, you're not directly beneath me, but I can ask that you tell it to me straight." He raised the hand that had been at his hip into a fist. "Marrying into their nobility would go a long way to smoothing more than a few problems. It would give the house formal claim to both the world and its people, shielding them from some of the trouble that is already approaching at top speed. You don't have to love her, you know that. I know that."

Laud nodded with a clenched jaw, his own fingers curling, but he kept from expressing himself too strongly. "I will bear that in mind."

"All that I ask." Paul dusted off the front of his suit. "They seem to like you. If you could make inroads with one of their ruling class, that would be even better, but we can only make the moves available to us. Princess Sparkle didn't seem interested, and she is the one you've dealt with most, am I right?"

"She may give a friendship necklace, if I asked." Laud quirked a smile at the thought of it. "That wouldn't assist our cause, other than getting a sweet treat."

"Very funny." He clapped Laud on the shoulder and marched off towards other business, leaving him to scurry off gratefully.

As Laud moved through the town of Ponyville, some excited noises started to rise from those around him. The ponies were looking up, so he glanced where they were gaping to see that a chariot was being drawn by two pegasi in golden armor. In the chariot was Princess Celestia, descending from her mountain home.

He moved to intercept, walking briskly towards the town square, where she seemed to be pointed towards. He wasn't the only one to have the same thought. Twilight and her friends had beaten him there, all smiling and ready. Mayor Mare was up on the stage, standing stiffly and looking towards the oncoming ruler.

Even as the chariot touched the ground, Mayor Mare gestured to her. "Behold, our princess!" All the ponies dropped into a bow, sinking down to one knee towards Celestia. Twilight started to do so, but Rarity kicked her subtly from the side, aborting the movement.

Laud offered a proper bow, seeing no reason to disrespect a pony he had need to remain on the good side of, and who likely had enough magic to do terrible things to him if she had the mind to do it.

"It is good to see you all," greeted Celestia with a kindly smile as she stepped from the chariot. "Laud, a pleasure. I see your friends have arrived."

Ponies began to rise, her greeting apparently enough of a hint that they were free to resume their activity. Twilight trotted towards her superior. "I've been seeing to their needs."

"That you have." Celestia nodded slightly. "I have read your reports. Laud, what is the status of the trading dock?"

Laud gestured in the direction of the dock. "They're laying down the cement and pavement right now. It'll be ready soon. We had a chance to give it a test run, and the construction crew's feeling confident they can do this right."

"Princess Celestia," came a firm voice, translated by his collar. Paul stepped through the crowd, weaving around ponies even as his closest guards did the same to keep up with him. "I have eagerly awaited the chance to meet you."

Celestia turned to him, her focus shifting entirely. "Good day. Are you also a Hawkwood?"

Paul could not understand her, but he had come prepared. He offered a translating collar towards her. "Created by a student of your student."

"Ah, Starlight?" She took the collar in her magic and soon had it on. "Is that better?" She started lightly when the translating voice echoed her statement. "There we are. As I was saying, you are a Hawkwood?"

"That I am. I am Duke Hawkwood, the commanding officer of the vessel I have little doubt you saw touch own on your country."

Celestia inclined her head forward slightly in a shallow nod. "Quite an impressive machine that was. It is still there, is it not? I should imagine it would not leave its duke behind."

"That would be most unusual." Paul examined Celestia with critical eyes, taking in her details. "I believe we have much to discuss."

"That we do." Celestia turned away towards Mayor Mare. "Is there an available space for such negotiations?"

Mayor Mare jumped. "O-oh, of course, Your Highness." She pointed towards the town hall. "Please, make use of it. We'll see to your needs."

Celestia began to lead the way. "Laud, I will want to speak to you after this."

Laud was perfectly happy to speak with her, but that had also been a dismissal. Her stating that they would speak, later, meant they would not speak now. She would speak with Paul, without him. There was little he could do to argue it. A Duke and a Princess were both in the position of telling him to sit down and be quiet.

He watched them walk off together, speaking animatedly, even if their translators remained neutral. Paul's men trailed behind, keeping careful watches on anything that approached.

"I know how you feel." Twilight sat down beside him. "I want to talk to her right now, do something... But she has this under control." She looked to Laud with a smile. "They'll call us when they're ready."

Applejack nodded. "That's just how that works. Twi, I better be trottin' back to the farm. Need anythin' else?"

Twilight waved it away. "Go ahead, AJ. I don't think any of us are needed at the moment."

Rarity flicked her mane. "Celestia was looking lovely, as usual. I imagine she's in quite the tizzy considering how things are developing."

Fluttershy tilted her head at her refined friend. "What's developing?"

Rarity arched a brow. "Darling, seriously? Have you not been paying attention?" She pointed at Laud. "His people are coming, ready or not. Celestia is working to be certain that we are on the ready side of that little proposal."

"Oh," she timidly acknowledged, looking towards Laud. "Is that a good thing?"

Before he could reply, Pinkie popped up between him and Fluttershy. "It's like a bajillion new friends! We have to make sure we say hi right, which is why I'm learning from Paul and his friends just what they like."

Rainbow lowered down, hovering just to the right of Laud. "One of their guards said they had little tiny ships that go super fast. I want to try one of those bad boys out!"

Laud held up a hand. "We're doing what we can to make sure this goes smoothly. You, as a people,  have been nothing but kind and cooperative. I've heard the stories of the past, and I won't just... stand by when I have the chance to avoid another of those--"

Twilight suddenly poked him in the side with a hoof. "Tell us."

He had stepped in it. He went quiet.

Twilight's gaze did not waver. "I understand your people have had a long and... spotted past. As you said, we are working towards an agreeable end to this. Tell me what happened before, no censoring, no editing. What happened? What are we avoiding?"

All eyes were on him, all of her friends and Spike now focused on Laud entirely. "Alright... Let's retire somewhere. This isn't something that needs to be shouted from the town square."

Twilight's eyes wandered, taking in that their crowd went beyond her closest friends to some random ponies listening and watching curiously. "You... have a point. Let's go."

She led Laud and her friends back to her castle, though Applejack went back to her farm. Rainbow landed on her throne with a grin. "Alright, get talking, Mister 'I have a secret'."

The others nodded, looking to him. He didn't assume to take a throne, even if two of them were unoccupied. "Our people have... a long standing habit when it comes to encountering less advanced people."

Twilight hiked a brow. "And that is?"

"We come, we see, and we conquer. It isn't always through direct violence, but the weaker culture  loses all the same."

Rarity rolled her eyes with a pfft. "You're being dramatic, darling. Just because you have a few fancy starships doesn't mean we can't be ponies." She waved a hoof through the air. "I feel absolutely certain that some of our 'culture' will rub off in the other direction as well. We'll surely change, what is life without it, but it's not the end of things. Stop being so dramatic."

Twilight snorted softly into a hoof. "Rarity would know about that, but I think, all in all, she isn't wrong. What's the worst thing that's happened?" She leaned forward, eyes narrowing. "Speaking of that, Shantor. The horse-like people you mentioned. What happened to them?"

Rainbow thrust a hoof at Laud. "No dodging this time."

Laud would have much rather not be talking about that, but... "When we first met them, we weren't even certain they were sapient. When we determined they were, we were still certain they weren't 'as' sapient as humans, so we casually took their world. When there was a threat of their being taken by symbionts, we penned them up in reservations, for their own protection, or so they say."

Twilight's hoof slowly settled back down, blinking slowly. "That's... terrible, but not as bad as I had feared."

Rarity fluttered her lashes. "It seems to me, darling, that we've very much determined if ponies are sapient, wouldn't you say?"

Pinkie bobbed her head. "Ah-huh. If we weren't whatever that was, we wouldn't need these." She pointed at her translator. "Besides, only people make cake, and we make great cake!"