//------------------------------//
// Diplomacy 
// Story: My Little Pony, Friendship is Magic: Storm of Friendship 
// by SuperPinkBrony12 
//------------------------------//

Princess Celestia had just finished sweeping away the last of the rubble in the throne room, when the doors suddenly swung wide open. She spun around in time to see Queen Novo enter, alongside a rather anxious looking Shining Armor. Novo herself didn't look particularly happy, though her actual expression was hard to judge.

Still the sun princess tried her best to be hospitable toward her guest. "Oh, Queen Novo, what a lovely yet unexpected surprise," She warmly greeted. "To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?"

Queen Novo looked across to Shining really quick, then locked eyes on Princess Celestia and told her firmly. "I wish I could say it was for pleasant formalities, princess, but then I'd be a liar. Celestia, dear, there's something we need to discuss. And it involves your 'Captain of the Royal Guard' so to speak."

Celestia was taken aback at Novo's statement. "What about him? I know he visited you about a day or two ago, and that your daughter joined his friends in helping to take back Canterlot."

"Well that's exactly what I need to discuss with you," Novo declared in a stern tone of voice. "I get the feeling he didn't tell you every little thing that went down when we visited. But he tried to make off with the Pearl of Transformation. Or rather, he claimed he merely wanted to study it."

"'The Pearl of Transformation'?" Celestia pondered. "You'll have to forgive me, I am not very familiar with your seapony ways and your Seaquestria kingdom. I was never aware you'd cut off ties to the outside world."

Novo only shook her head. "You couldn't have known, but that's not what's important. What is important is that your captain here attempted to steal the very thing that protected my kingdom from the Storm King. And all while sending his friends to distract my daughter and I in the hopes we wouldn't notice."

But Shining spoke up in protest. "Novo, please, leave my friends out of this. They had no part in it. It was never my intention to have them win you over, just so I could borrow the Pearl of Transformation for study. I had no idea their song and dance would charm even the likes of you," Then he added. "And it seems your daughter chose willingly to side with them after you kicked us out, knowing full well what would happen if you caught her. You have every right to be mad with me, but don't drag others into this just for associating with me."

Now it was Celestia's turn to look disappointed. "So you admit this is true, Shining Armor?" She questioned with a frown.

"As much as I wish it wasn't, it is," Shining reluctantly confessed to the princess. "I won't pretend my actions were for some greater good, because they weren't. I know now that they were selfish and short-sighted. But at the time all I could think about was the fact that we'd come all that way and had nothing to show for it."

Celestia sighed, her frown only increasing. "Shining Armor, I am so disappointed in you," She scolded in a tone that sounded not unlike a mother lecturing her child for bad behavior. "I thought you of all ponies would know better. Your actions could've and probably did cause an international incident."

Shining could only hang his head in shame. "Believe me, princess, I know that. And you're not the only one who was disappointed in my decision, my friends gave me quite the earful for it and they were right. What I did was wrong, I won't deny that. And I also know that simply saying sorry won't undo any of what I did."

"My thoughts exactly," Novo declared in a neutral tone of voice. "Regardless of your intentions and regardless of the clear regret you have for them now, I simply cannot let such a heinous action go unpunished. The only question is: What should I do with you?"

With a gulp, the prince pleaded to Novo. "Before you make up your mind, I would like to point out that my actions, as inconsiderate as they were, did inadvertently lead to the Storm King's demise."

"And your point is?" Novo questioned.

The prince continued. "Well, now you don't have to hide underwater anymore. You can go back to being hippogriffs and living on Mount Aris. So, in a way, attempting to steal the pearl sort of worked out for the best in the end for everyone. Though I understand that the Storm King likely could've been defeated had I not tried to swipe the pearl," Then he proceeded to bow his head. "Whatever you decide is fitting, I shall obey. If you want to ban me from ever again setting hoof into your kingdom, I'll understand."





For a moment a tense and uncomfortable silence hung over the throne room, no one dared to speak a word. At last, Novo cleared her throat. "I've been thinking long and hard about how to punish you, prince," She told Shining Armor. "It must fit the crime, obviously. But you're right about the Storm King, and for that my subjects would no doubt argue that it would be wrong to forever ban the hero who allowed us to be free. Even if it was for an offense such as stealing," She paused, putting a claw to her chin. After a bit of pondering she added. "Effective immediately, I shall be banning you from both of my kingdoms. But only for a period of a few months while we rebuild and move on. Once things are back to normal, your ban shall be lifted on the condition that you never again try to steal from us."

Shining was both relieved, and also more than a bit confused by Novo's declaration. "Your kingdoms?" He questioned. "Forgive me, your majesty, but I believe you misspoke. Either that or my hearing is on the fritz."

But much to the alicorn prince's surprise, Novo threw back her head and laughed. "You haven't misheard, prince. I did indeed say kingdoms. It's actually quite simple," She proceeded to explain. "You see, some of my subjects have longed for the chance to be hippogriffs once again, including my brother-in-law Sky Beak. But others, like my sister Ocean Flow have gotten used to being seaponies and don't want to give that up and move back to Mount Aris. After I forced all my subjects to become seaponies so we could hide, I owe it to them to let them all decide for themselves what they want to be and where they want to live. There are even some that, like myself, will choose to live in both places. Mount Aris and Seaquestria shall both be kingdoms."

"Oh, I see," The prince realized. "But how do you plan on ruling over both kingdoms?"

Novo just grinned. "That's for me to know and you to find out someday. For now though, I wish solely to return to Seaquestria with my daughter and break the news to my subjects about the Storm King's defeat," Then she approached Princess Celestia and spoke to her. "Princess, I owe you an apology."

"Whatever for, Novo?" Celestia pondered with the most puzzled look on her face.

"For hiding away and ignoring your nation's cry for help," Novo explained. "When my husband sacrificed himself to ensure my daughter and I could escape the Storm King's wrath, I convinced myself that the only way to survive and overcome the pain, was to hide under the water and avoid all contact with the surface world. But I see now that I was wrong, all I accomplished was leaving my kingdom isolated and alone, when we could've been working together with other nations to better prepare for the Storm King's return. For no nation or kingdom for that matter, no matter how strong, can long survive on its own. Without allies even the best of powers will fall in time."

Celestia simply bowed to Novo. "I too must apologize. I heard rumors about the Storm King invading Mount Aris long ago, but it I was so giddy at the knowledge that Luna's banishment would soon be over, that I allowed myself to ignore more pressing matters. Had I looked into things on my own, I probably would've learned the truth much sooner than this. And perhaps I could've found a way to have this chat that needed to be had."

"Well at least we agree now that there will be no more hiding and no more barriers between us," Novo declared. "Our kingdoms shall stand united once again, and this time better than ever."

"And I hope that someday, in the not too distant future, you and I can be friends," Shining spoke to Novo. "I know that trying to be friends now would be difficult after all that has happened."

Novo shook her head. "Nonsense, prince. Regardless of how I may feel about your past transgressions, I am willing to consider you a friend. For all who dwell in Equestria are now my friends, and by extent that means you," She was quick to add, however. "This doesn't change your punishment though. You are not to set one hoof into either of my kingdoms until I have said otherwise. Disobey me, and the banishment shall be permanent."

"I understand, your majesty." Shining bowed. And then he and Celestia watched as Novo departed from the throne room without another word.





Now alone with the pony he often looked up to as a mentor, role model, and even mother, Shining gazed into Celestia's eyes and asked the sun princess. "Do you too wish to punish me for my actions? I'll understand if you wish to have me dishonorably discharged from the royal guard."

But Celestia waved a hoof. "Nonsense, Shining Armor. I wouldn't dream of it. You are perhaps the best Captain of the Royal Guard I have ever seen. I know you made a mistake, but I also know that you are truly sorry for what you've done. I didn't terminate you from your post when Discord took over your mind now did I?" Shining shook his head. "So why would this be any different? Even Queen Novo herself doesn't hold hostilities against you, and she has already given you a fitting punishment. I simply hope you won't make such a rash mistake again."

Shining firmly nodded. "Trust me, princess, I won't. You have my word on that."

Celestia smiled. "Good," And then she changed the subject. "Now then, please go and fetch Tempest. There are some things the two of us need to discuss, alone."

"I thought you'd already spoken with her?" Shining commented as the most confused expression worked its way onto his face.

"With the other princesses, yes," Celestia explained. "But with your insistance that we hold Songbird Serenade's concert as soon as possible, there wasn't much for a meaningful chat about all that she's done wrong and why she did it. Even if she played a role in vanquishing the Storm King, the fact remains that she sided with a foreign power and aided in an attack on Equestria's capital. Those are serious offenses that cannot simply be overlooked."

Shining reluctantly nodded in response. "I understand, princess. I'll go and fetch her at once," But before he left he advised Celestia. "Just try not to be too hard on her."