Frozen were the faces of Celestia, Cadance, Luna, Shining Armor, Twilight Velvet, Night Light, the Element Bearers, and Flurry Heart, laying over her mother's head. Lady Twilight "Arcadia Nova" Sparkle and her fiance King Shimmering Madun were just smiling like Her Majesty Molten Ice and Princess Merry Fire, Madun's mother and sister.
They were all witnessing the come to life moments of Events at Eventa. When the lights come on and everything is up at full power. A few seconds ago, the hundreds of large overhead lights were turned on with huge two hundred foot display screens hanging from the ceiling, LED blue lights that lined the glass barriers they were behind, and the floor that was as black as Luna's night. They could all tell there was so much more beyond what their sights could see. The screens in front of them displayed a prompt, flashing "TESTING" in bold white letters. Same for the ones that lined the walls behind them and around the entire stadium. Sunset could see the flashes of light as far as she could see and farther still.
"The stadium does automatic tests on its own!" They looked up at the mare who was directing things inside. She had gotten her hooves on a clipboard and pen from somewhere and were watching the screens as they changed colors. "Don't be alarmed if you get the unexpected."
Merry poked Arcadia, grabbing her eyes and swiveling ears. Merry was holding a smirk on her face. "You know?... That explains a lot." Arcadia felt more coming. "Yesterday, you and Madun were at the doctor. Before that, coitus. Then your sudden departure for the bathroom..." Merry gasped. "YOU'RE—" Her mouth suddenly turned into a zipper.
With a glowing horn, Arcadia stated sternly, "No I'm not. At least not yet." Merry made a noise that sounded like a question. "Next week." She removed the spell to allow Merry to speak.
"So you might..." She made a circular motion with her hoof.
"Maybe. But we won't know until next week. Don't tell anyone. You weren't even supposed to know." Merry smirked and glanced at Molten Ice, who was staring at Arcadia and Madun. "I'll tell her later. Is everything up and running?" Arcadia walked forward and looked over the barrier down at the ground. There were more Pserateps slowly flying around wearing hardhats and reflective jackets holding clipboards. The stadium was filled with lights, movement, and voices through the blocks.
"Yes, your highness," Yellow Sage reported.
Madun nodded and turned to the group of Unicorns, Pegasi, and Earth Ponies. "Now we may have a little problem. Events at Eventa was built for—obviously—Pserateps only in mind. Pserateps that can easily travel. So getting to the stage which is eight miles in with you would be an issue."
Celestia was going to respond before she and the others were encased in a violet aura then lifted off their hooves. Everyone looked to Arcadia who was smirking to Madun. She raised a hoof and pointed at her horn while maintaining a steady eye contact with her fiance. "Ah, right, you have... That," he muttered. He glanced to the side and walked away to hide his embarrassment. He was used to ponies flying around to their destinations rather than not.
Arcadia chuckled before their guards took to the air. Followed by the other Pserateps and Arcadia who pulled the others along like a rope. They dived low and flew underneath the screens. Then tilted and soared towards the other side of the building. Along the way, the group watched the lights around them that seemed to start dancing in a pattern. The neon lines on the side started flashing and changing to different colors, moving towards the location they were headed. They flew along for around two minutes, hinting to the visitors Eventa's true size.
"We're coming up on the stage," Molten Ice announced.
"Is there going to be an aisle?" Twilight Velvet asked, swooning. "That your father can walk you down?"
Arcadia shrugged as they flew lower, nearly touching the empty floor. "I'm not entirely sure we'd have an aisle really. I'm not even sure how that even works here either. Merry?" Merry flipped over in flight and soared on her back beneath Arcadia, exposing her Green stomach and legs.
"Yes, your highness?" She responded teasingly. Applejack took note that she was a bit of a show-off. Could give Rainbow Dash a run for her bits.
Arcadia chuckled at her future sister-in-law's attitude and asked, "How do marriages work here? I couldn't find a book on the subject in the library."
"That's because they're not in that one. That information you can find in the more important sections, if you catch my drift. You know the reason. But in all of Psera's history, this marriage would be the first Royal Marriage. Before in the past, a Pseratep would already be engaged and do it in a much smaller setting. A park, a hall, a gallery. You two are the first Pserateps to ever, and I mean EVER, have a marriage this big and be Royalty. Let alone, before an inauguration."
Everyone turned to Arcadia and Madun. To be the first Royal Couple to ever marry while on the throne, the bride a legend among the Pserateps, as well as the first pony on the land to have magic must've been... Wow.
Molten sighed and said, "You're practically drawing history, Arcadia Nova."
Twilight sighed and said, "I just have that thing about me." The guards around them directed the group to the center of the large marble platform, fit with a large panel and podium bearing a microphone in front of it. "The Grand Ballroom is directly behind it. There are a lot of entrances to the Grand Stadium, but the Grand Ballroom's is in the Grand Stadium and Section Seven."
They dropped down onto the stage and settled on their hooves. Arcadia let the visitors go once they were safely over the stage, including Rainbow Dash who was really itching to just fly. But remembered that Pserateps could be watching. The knowledge that somepony could possibly be plotting to murder Twilight was unsettling to everypony. Thus raising another question about something Merry said earlier.
As they walked along the highly decorated stage, Luna cleared her throat and asked, "You said something about 'The Elite Guard' earlier?"
Molten giggled and teased, "You want to know all about Psera, huh? The Elite Guard is a mix of the Military and the Guard. The much rougher side of things. During the wedding, the Elite will be placed in here inside the stadium. I should tell you right now. If you are attending the wedding, you will be placed at the front alongside a few 'guests of honor'. Mainly to be kept an eye on. If there is in fact an attack, we'll be able to verify if it was, or was not you. Psera isn't really fond of foreigners, as I'm sure you already know. So having you here is a major flag. Above all, the safety of even the most minor Pseratep is our top priority. Lady Arcadia is no greater than our Pserateps during this time, although she is to be treated with the most respect. I am sure she realizes this."
Arcadia nodded when they stopped at a pair of large doors at the back of the large stage. They were steel and had Golden Ornate handles. Above them in golden letters was the title "Grand Ballroom." "To be honest, I don't even like being bowed to," Arcadia added. "In the future, I know I'll be called Queen Arcadia with that included. But I just prefer to be called Arcadia behind closed doors. What time is it?"
A guard looked at his hoof that didn't have a communication block and answered, "Eleven."
Arcadia and Madun shared a proud look, then motioned towards the double doors, giving the cue. The Guard there pushed the door open, letting in more light. The Grand Ballroom was—just like everything else in Psera—big. There were gold and steel columns cut out into a design. The room itself was big enough to hold over seven hundred Pserateps. But nopony in there were dancing.
While the visitors were gazing around the room and commenting about how fast you'll get lost in Eventa, the Royalty of Psera were directing their sights towards the Pserateps behind the tables, displaying their designs. There were around maybe fifty designers on the sides behind cloth covered tables. Along with nametags and apparently their drawn designs. A guard by the door cleared his throat and announced their arrival. "All eyes and ears on their majesties!!"
All the Pserateps stopped talking and shifted their sights towards the doors that they were standing in front of. Madun cleared his throat and said, "I am glad to see all my ponies working so hard to ensure Arcadia and my happiness. Thank you so much."
Arcadia nodded and informed, "My assistant will be going around and taking a few photos of your work for review, as well as you for recognition. You were not picked for this opportunity by accident, after all. You were picked because you have talent. So even if you are not chosen to help design our wedding hall for the wedding, you still hold credibility because you were actually chosen to present your designs for—what I hear—Psera's first entirely Royal Wedding. So everyone in here will be getting something out of this."
The contestants smiled and nodded approvingly while Gardeen reached into one of her bags and pulled out a large camera. Then trotted casually towards the first table with Arcadia, Madun, and a few Pserateps from the press, starting off the event. While they moved, the visitors just stood by and looked around the dancehall more closely.
Besides its size, there was a lot of design. There were large golden slabs on the walls that were cut into shapes of Pserateps in the past. There were a lot. But the largest slab was right above the Grand Stadium entrance. Celestia turned her whole body towards it, staring in awe. Then tapped Luna and Cadance's shoulder, getting them to swivel and gawk as well.
There was a large golden slab on the wall embossed with a female Pseratep somehow painted a light green coat with very long outstretched wings. Her mane was an orange-red like Madun's coat. And around her were perfect versions of The Castle of the Gods, Cop, the sky with the sun centered right above the mare's head. Beneath the subject of the creation was a name. A single name.
"Narmeelah," Luna whispered. The other visitors gathered around and looked it over. "I guess she is a very important Pseratep figure."
"She is the founder," Yellow Sage explained. Luna and the others watched her approach with a smile on her face. "The Founder and first Queen of Psera. She lived for millions of years in Psera. Helped found its cities, personally helped in defense, built the first castle before it was destroyed by years of war, then... Vanished."
Celestia and the others turned back to Yellow Sage's face adorned with an admiring gaze, still trained on the embossed plaque. Luna looked back at it and repeated, "Vanished?"
Yellow nodded. "Yep."
"As in disappeared?"
"Yes."
"So..."
"The Legend describes her heading back to her room after a long and tiring day," Yellow recalled. "She was the queen for over four hundred thousand years but could still move like a foal. She went into her room and fell asleep. But did not return the next morning. The Princess, her daughter Saemool, went into the room to wake her. But she was not there. Her bed was perfectly made and everything were in place. But... She was not. After not finding her in the castle, Saemool dispatched all the guards to search the entire continent. We never found her. Saemool cried for days, but did take over the throne in her mother's name. She had a family and continued the line which had split off into different branches of a large family tree. A family of five girls and three boys."
"So... She just... That is quite the legend," Rarity stammered.
Yellow nodded and agreed. "Yes. We believe Narmeelah is still alive out there, smiling proudly on Psera. And if not... Then it's okay."
"Mrs. Sage," A baritone voice said from behind her. Everyone turned around and nearly gawked. There were a group of big and strong Pseratep guards standing behind them. But they were much different. Instead of metal wear, they wore dense black suits with thick fabric straps, hard metal helmets, and a bunch more that were black. The suit held a lot of pockets that held knives, weird darts of some sort, and some type of machine that held rotary cannons on their sides with a pump on it. Along with long shackles for detainment. Not to mention the blades in their wings.
"Oh, hello, Captain Metalhoof," Yellow Sage greeted. "I see you've brought your team."
Captain Metalhoof nodded his head and said, "We are here for the drill." He focused his deep blue and cold eyes on Celestia for a moment then back on Sage. "And..."
Yellow Sage gestured to the visitors with a wing and introduced them. "These are Lady Arcadia's group from Equestria." She pointed to Sunset Shimmer and added, "And she is their Liaison for S3's Mobile Unit and Lady Arcadia personally. Everyone, this is Captain Metalhoof of the Elite Guard. He is joining us today for an early lowdown of the wedding as well as the drill that will be taking place. It is taken very seriously."
Celestia coughed for a moment, then greeted, "Hello, good sir. I am Princess Celestia. This is my Sister, Princess Luna, and Niece, Princess Cadance. As well as her daughter Princess Flurry Heart and her Husband Prince Consort Captain Shining Armor of The Royal Guard back in Equestria. Also Lady Arcadia's brother. This is her family, Twilight Velvet and Night Light."
Captain Metalhoof simply nodded to each of them, then said, "I have not even met Lady Arcadia. But I hear many great things. Hopefully allowing you on our land was a good decision."
Yellow sage pointed behind them with a wing. "Well today's your lucky day. She's right there with his highness."
Metalhoof and his squad turned around towards her target. Lady Arcadia had Madun's wing draped over her back, grinning and conversing around probably the tenth table at a design while Gardeen and the others took photos and labels. Captain Metalhoof turned back with that same steel expression and said, "Good. I cannot wait to meet her."
"Captain Metalhoof, how are you?" Captain Metalhoof turned towards the approaching voice of Lieutenant Sword, smiling once he spotted her.
"Gliding, a pleasure," he greeted. "You are escorting their majesties?"
"Yessir," she responded. "I'm looking out for Lady Arcadia during her outings around Psera. It is a great honor here. I see you've met our visitors."
Metalhoof glanced back towards the large group of Equestrians. "Yes, I have. I was told that Lady Arcadia had a little run-in with a... Harassing pony who tried to flirt with her in front of his highness. Is this correct?"
Gliding nodded. "Yes. A few bitter words were said."
"The next time Lady Arcadia does any foreign affairs I highly suggest she is escorted by the Elite. Royal Guard are for more domestic issues. The Elite are for more important tasks and are specifically trained for problems of that nature."
"I will let the Advisory Committee know ASAP."
"Good." Metalhoof turned back to Yellow Sage and stated, "Let us know by the Blocks when it is time to begin the drill. My teams are ready. I am going to speak with the King and Lady in Waiting." Before Yellow Sage could respond, Metalhoof turned around and lead his squad towards the Royals.
Luna leaned down to Yellow Sage and whispered, "The Elite, I take it?"
Yellow Sage nodded and answered, "The Elite are the Guard and Military, specializing in very important events. Meetings with foreign nations is very important to Metalhoof let alone the Elite Guard, so him not informed of this caused a slight security risk. Although I am sure Lady Arcadia did not inform them for a reason. From what I hear, Equestria is currently open to invasion, correct?"
"Er... In a way," Cadance carefully responded.
"I am positive then that Arcadia didn't want to frighten her disabled homeland with forty of these guys strutting around. It would cause quite the issue. Right now, these Pserateps are traveling light. Their weapons here are used for apprehension. But they have many more deadly weapons that would be used."
"Oh... Good choice then," Celestia agreed.
***
Arcadia fawned at the eleventh design while Madun merely smiled. The Grand Stadium had different flat geometrical shapes hanging from the ceiling bearing Psera's crest. The stage also had them. Madun pointed and stated, "I'm drawn in by the colors and shapes."
"And I by the shapes," Arcadia added. "We already have the colors. Right?"
Madun smirked and answered, "We have the flowers. I don't know about the colors."
"We need to decide on the colors." Arcadia smiled as she watched Gardeen take the photos while the other assistants wrote down some things.
"Lady Arcadia." Arcadia buzzed her wings a little in surprise at the deepness of that voice—nearly hitting Gardeen—and turned around. The Elite. Definitely. Captain Metalhoof and his team bowed while Arcadia tapped Madun's side, getting his attention. He turned and stood beside her.
"Captain Metalhoof," he greeted. "It's wonderful to see you."
"My king," Metalhoof responded. He rose up and nodded to his spouse. "It is an honor to meet you in the flesh, Lady Arcadia. I am Captain Metalhoof of the Elite Guard of Psera. We are here to participate in the Eventa-wide drill, as well as to survey Events at Eventa's Grand Stadium and Hall."
"Nice to meet you, Captain," she greeted back. "I hope your men can secure the Stadium and the Grand Hall for the dance and reception."
"Of course, your highness. We'll do everything by the book to ensure your happiness. I came to let you know that the drill may be intense, so to speak. Hooves-on contact may be required."
Arcadia nodded and answered, "Very well, but not too rough. We have a very important reason."
"Yes, your highness."