Canterlot Signatory Hall
Equstria, Canterlot
August 1st 1000
1130
"Princess Celestia will make the first announcement, followed by yours. There'll be a short Q&A session before you sign the treaty and raise the flag, during which the national anthems will be played, is there anything else you need to know Ambassador?"
I was currently pacing up and down the floor behind a strip of red velvet curtain waiting for this press conference to start. I was currently alone minus one of my guards who was currently running me through the procedure of the event.
If I was being completely honest I was near enough shitting bricks, id had given speeches before, being a Captain and all it sort of comes with the job title. Although I had never given one which would have such lasting importance like this one. I was basically throwing all convention out of the window and acting on behalf of my entire planet, not something I could really take lightly.
"Ambassador?" The guard spoke up again moving into my line of sight.
"Oh, yeah, no I think ill be fine,".
"That's good to hear Danny," a voice came from behind me, turning to the source my face cracked a small smile.
"Hey Blue, coming to watch me tank this thing?" I asked giving her a soft punch in the sides.
"Neigh, we have simply come for support," Luna affirmed.
"We all have,". Looking behind Luna I saw Twilight and her friends standing behind her along with Celestia and the pink one.
"Huh, I thought you guys would be out in the crowd?" I asked moving forward to talk to them.
"Dont worry big guy we will be," Rainbow said hoofing me in the shoulder. You know for a squishy looking ponies they sure packed some force behind their little hoofs.
"I must say Darling the staff have done a fine job with your uniform," Rarity said as she began to use her magic to straighten up my shirt which was currently tucked into my trousers.
I was wearing my MTP's that had been washed thoroughly. To be honest, I didn't have a choice in the matter, very early this morning I was harassed by who I can only assume was some form of Royal Stylists who made me get a proper wash and shave. Not that I was complaining of course. I did feel a lot more like myself now.
Apart from my MTP 's, I was blank minus my rank insignia which I had attached to my chest in the middle of my MTP's.
"Yes I agree it does make you appear more official," Twilight said trotting up to me.
"Thanks, I only hope looking the part will allow me to properly act the part," I said as I looked at myself in a nearby mirror.
"Well sugarcube, we have every confidence that you'll do great," Applejack said before being interpreted by a pink blur.
"Yeah! And then we can have a big huge massive "Alien Welcome Party" whatcha think!?" The pink blue was suddenly pressed into my face in the form of Pinkie who was bouncing up and down in order to match my height.
"I think, id like some personal space," I replied taking a few steps back.
"Okie Doki Loki," Pinkie said bolting her self to the floor before bouncing one step back. "Better?"
"Sure," I said sighing at the hyperactive ponies antics.
"Well I think we should take our seats before there are none left," Twilight pointed out as she poked her hoof through a gap in the curtain.
She was right, the room was quickly filling with a large variety of ponies and other exotic creatures.
Celeastia really wasn't kidding when she mentioned the whole planet of different species thing I mused as I poked my head above Twilights to get a slightly better view.
I could make out several different types of ponies as well as a large number of mythical creatures ranging from Gryphons to Minotaurs and from Minotaurs to Hors, wait, Horses!?
Taking their seats in one of the front rows were a group of Earth-style horses.
"Celestia!" Motioning for the Princess to come over to where I was standing I gave a quick point in the direction of the horses. "You never told me you guys had actual horses here!"
Celestia to her credit just smiled slightly. "That would be the delegation from Saddle Arabia,"
I paused to look back at her. "I'm sorry did you just say Saddle Arabia?" I asked giving her my best "What The Fuck Look".
"Yes, is that a problem?" Celestia asked giving me a concerned look.
"No, its, it's just on my world we have a nation called Saudi Arabia that's all," I clarified giving her an amused look one she soon shared after hearing my explanation.
"Very Intriguing," she said before sealing the gap in the curtain with her magic. "However, I do believe it is time I made an appearance in front of the curtain instead of behind it,".
"Any last-minute advice Celestia?" I asked placing a hand on her withers.
"Actually, there is one piece of advice," Celestia said stopping and turning to face me before leaning in close to my ear. "Believe it or not I like the fact that you dont call me by my title it makes me feel like we're just two poni, well you know what I mean. However, during the conference, you may wish to address me and all others present by their titles as to not, upset the balance,".
"Ah, I see, that seems fair enough," I reasoned.
"I'm glad to hear it, now good luck," She said as she walked out onto the stage.
"Well, let's see how this goes,".
Celestias POV
As I walked out onto the stage I could feel the eyes follow me. It was like being under the lens of hundreds of tiny microscopes. Not that it was an uncommon feeling for me, however, I did worry how the Captain would react in such a scenario. Regardless of his reaction, it was now too late to back down and so I pressed on.
I began making my way over to the podium that had been positioned in the middle of the stage. The podium was showing the Equestrian Coat of Arms and the Equestrian Flag stood proudly behind it. Next to the flag was the covered up flag of the Captain's homeworld that was to be revealed upon the signing of the treaty.
It was a little hard to make out with all of the light pouring down onto the stage, however, I could still make out the shapes of all the different creatures that had congregated for this conference. I knew nearly every one of them. I could just make out the shape of the Count Of Wingfarn (the Griffion ambassador to Equestria) sitting with his nation's delegation along with several other influential ambassadors on the world stage.
Well Celestia this is it, make or break the future of Equss with this press conference. Lead us into an era of peace or an era of war. My mind was racing at the implications of what was about to happen here by my actions, nevertheless, it was finally time.
As I looked out to face the crowd the room fell completely silent as I began to speak.
"Ambassadors, Distinguished guest and members of the world press, I welcome you here today to the famous hall of signatories for this most auspicious occasion. For today we celebrate the inclusion of the first nation-state not to originate on this planet but from another,".
Instantly the room exploded into a frenzy of murmurs, shouts and protests. Shouts of "I knew it!" and "Impossible!" lit up the room. Camera flashes lit up like a disorganised firework show from the back wings whilst others shouted for calm. All in all, it wasn't the best start.
"Everyone, please! If you could all just calm down for a moment," I tried to reason with the growing noise but my small voice was slowly being overpowered by the noise of the room.
"I will be able to answer all of your questions!" I shouted trying to quickly regain control of the situation.
"What gives your government the right to withhold information of this kind!?" The unmistakable voice of the Count could be heard piercing through the crowd causing others to cheer in agreement, or in disagreement, I honestly couldn't tell anymore.
"Please, I promise to expl.."
"ALRIGHT!" I froze my head not wishing to move to the source of the sound.
Buck.
As I stood watching Celestia get hounded on stage Luna looked on with sadness and anger at the way creatures were shouting at her.
"This is outrageous!" She shouted stomping her hoof on the ground. "She has done nothing to deserve this!"
"Easy Blue," I said placing my hand on her withers. "I'll fix this," as I started to walk out onto the stage I was held back by Luna's aura of magic.
"Danny," Luna started.
"Blue, let me go," I said calmly. After a few more seconds of being held in her aura, it dissipated in front of me allowing me to enter the stage.
Here goes nothing I thought to myself as I cleared my throat. "ALRIGHT!"
The effect was immediate. A wide variety of high and low pitch gasps filled the room as silence quickly fell upon it as if gravity itself was pushing all of the noise downwards out of hearing range. Some mouths remained opened however no words came out. Even the many old fashioned cameras refused to flash out of fear of retaliation from me.
It was unlike anything I had ever felt before, it was their collected fear. It was palpable and it was strong.
Slowly I stepped up to the podium besides Celestia giving her a curt nod.
"Hello, I would like to introduce myself on behalf of the United Nations of Earth and her colonies. My name is Captain Daniel Peters of the British Army. Now before we go any further than that let me make something explicitly clear. As cliche as it sounds to me, I come in peace, I mean you no harm and I want to assure all of you that my arrival here is as much a mystery to you just like it is for me,". I paused for a moment trying to gauge the response of the creatures that were arranged out in front of me. Each one had a different expression but all wore a face of shock and awe.
"To my knowledge, my world had no intention of establishing first contact with yours. It remains unknown whether I am in a different part of my own Universe or indeed another. Regardless of what is done is done and for the moment I am trapped here with you all. Therefore I have no choice but adhere to what I believe my government would want me to do. My people have a strict set of rules regarding the first contact with another intelligent world and I can guarantee I've violated nearly everyone, however, no I will strive to no longer do so. From today I will act in the capacity as Earths ambassador to Equestria. I shall do so for as long it is necessary to find my way home. I am not interested in cultural exchanges at this time and I have no desires to visit other nations at present. My only goal is to get home safely to my people and to prevent any more cultural contamination. Finally, I know this must come as a shock but I will try to answer any questions that your governments may have to ask me,". I said taking a breath and releasing the floor to the other ambassadors.
Unlike with Celestia, no one moved an inch, no one wanted to speak up first it seemed, I really couldn't tell if this was a good thing or bad thing.
"I have a question!" A voice rose up. Looking down I could see the scrawny figure of an old-looking Griffon.
"Yes?" I asked.
"I am the Count Of Wingfarn and am the Ambassador to this land from the Griffonian Empire. You claim to us that you are not interested in any form of cultural exchange, however, undoubtedly the Equestrians have already been given access to such devices. This hardly seems like an Equal balance of world power to me,".
"I can assure you sir that I have given no such access to any of my technology, and I dont intend to do so, I intend to try and leave this world as I came into it with minimal cultural contamination,".
"What makes you think you can hold our people back!?" A voice shouted for somewhere in the crowd.
"That's not my intention at all, I simply want to,".
"To take control of us, this could be the first wave a scout, are we honestly expected to trust you. Someone who refuses to give us anything other than its word and allies itself with one of the most powerful nations,".
"And what of the smaller nations around us what are we expected to do!?"
"What should we do to protect ourselves!?"
"EVERYONE SHUT UP!" I yelled once again grabbing everyone's attention. This was complete and other bullshit, to hell with being diplomatic.
"I've seen little of your world but from what I have seen ill give you my prognosis. Your weak, your solders sit in castles wielding swords and shields whilst my nations have the ability to destroy whole planets within an hour. Do whatever you like, run home and plead to your governments to build the biggest nastiest armies that your money can buy. However, if someone comes along to visit your world ill guarantee that you won't last a day!"
"Are you trying to say we should deploy our armies against your forces!?"
"I have no forces!" I yelled at the voice. "If I did I certainly wouldn't be here with you miserable lot but let me tell you if you want to raise the worlds biggest armies for a war that will never come then dont let me stop you, I just want to get home. I have a life and a job just like every one of you and ill tell you right now I'm not a diplomat,". Quickly turning around I riped the cover that was concealing the flag of the UN and exposed it to the room leading to more random spots of gasps.
"See this!?" I said grabbing a part of the flag. "This is the best flag I have to symbolise my world! It symbolises peace and freedom for all if you all can't see that or won't accept that then I'm sorry but that's the truth," Without thinking I ripped the flag off the pole and turned back around the face the stunned crowd. "This meeting is over, tell your governments what you like, it makes no difference to me, I'm not going to be anyone's ambassador".
Without even smiling for a photo I walked off the stage with my flag in tow, pushing past Luna I approached my guard. "Take me to that bar please," I asked defeated.
"Sir I,"
"Take me to that bar, please!" I snapped.
"This way," Thankful that the guard hadn't stopped and forced me to stay I left the room as no one tried to follow me much to my relief.
Well, there goes my career as a politician.
Canterlot Signatory Hall
Equstria, Canterlot
August 1st 1000
1240
Celestias POV
"Where is he, Luna?" I asked my calm facade shattered after taking a hundred more questions from the near frenzied ambassadors.
"He asked his guard to escort him somewhere, his quarters perhaps," Luna answered. I started to move in order to make my way there when my sister stepped in front of me.
"Sister, you cannot confront him now," she said holding her hoof out to stop me.
"Luna! He just indirectly threatened every notable power on this planet, encouraged them to raise armies and then walked out on the whole affair leaving me to deal with the backlash. The Griffons have already pulled their delegation out of Canterlot and with their influence in the East who knows who might be next, all because of his inability to sign a piece of paper and reassure everyone!" I ranted trying to push past her only to once again be stopped.
"He is not a politician, you just put the equivalent to a royal guard out there in front of the delegates and presses of the world to answer unanswerable questions!" Luna retorted.
"It was his own idea!" I pointed out rasing my voice.
"And clearly it was a flawed one, our best course of action should be to allow him some space in his quarters, allow him to calm down. Perhaps now that we know how he cant handle the political scene he might be more open to accepting citizenship,".
"Luna, please I understand you're trying to readjust to this time but you know that the leaders of the world would never accept that,".
"Do not think me so nieve sister that I wouldn't recognise that but we must do something!"
"I know that, and I'm sorry it's just that this situation is getting out of hoof too quickly we must try and contain him and prevent his exposure to the masses, anything he says or does now will be taken way out of proportion,".
"Your Majesties,". A sole gruff voice of one of the day guards interrupted our discussion. Quickly I turned to him as he lowered his head in a bow.
"Yes?" I asked trying to restore my calm demeanour onto my face as quickly as possible.
"Apologies for the interruption but there appears to be a disturbance in the guard's recreation building,".
"Guard, why has thou interrupted our conversation with such a petty matter," Luna cut in before I could make an enquiry, although I could already feel dread building up inside of me.
"Sorry your highness it is just, it is just that the person causing the disturbance is our guest the, ambassador from Earth,".
"Take us there at once," I ordered, the guard quickly saluted before about turning and leading us out of the room.
One international incident is enough for one day, I know, I dont need another.