//------------------------------// // Chapter 6: No Fighting in the Peace Room, Part 2 // Story: Escalation 84: A Post-Nuclear Story of Humans and Ponies // by dafid25 //------------------------------// November 4th, 1984, 1455 hours Chancellor Helmut Schmidt Meeting room/ library of the Castle of Friendship, Ponyville "...At times like these, we cannot sit idly and let humanity be washed away by the sands of time and history. We must put down our bickering and differences. We must unite now, as this is the only way forward!"  Everyone in the room applauded as Schmidt sat down. "I said, the only way forward!"  "Akh, der'mo. I must have missed that one." Marshal Akrhomeyev chuckled as he tried to light his cigarette but got confiscated by Starlight shaking her head.  Twilight put both of her front hooves on the table and said, "Alright, everypony...everyone, I am sure you all know why you are invited here to Ponyville, you blew each other up back in another world, and today you are invited here-" "In good faith, if I may add!" Starlight Glimmer added with a nervous smile on her face.  "...yes, in good faith. Thank you, Starlight. To sort this thing out." Twilight Sparkle finished. "Then why are we here?" Akrhomeyev asked, "no, seriously, shouldn't we talk at the capital of Equestria or something?" "Well, as we always say, Ponyville is the town of friendship, and friendship is exactly what is needed between humans to end this war and cooperate!" Princess Twilight replied. "Now, I would like everyone to...well..."  President Reagan interrupted, "Start talking about the details of the peace deal?"  "Yes! That!" Twilight exclaimed, "Now, on to the first one. All sides will completely cease hostilities with each other unconditionally. All in favor?"  All the humans raised their hands.  "Great! Now that's some good progress!" Starlight cheered.  Gorbachev sighed, "No offense, but we are about...40 minutes in. This isn't a whole lot."  "Now, let's move on to article two. All armed forces of each side shall unconditionally stop fighting and lay down arms, effective immediately." Twilight read from her draft. "No ship, vessel, or aircraft shall be scuttled. No damage should be done to their hull, machinery, and equipment." Edward C. Meyer leaned forward, "Laying down arms? That's more of a surrender thing."  "You don't exactly see us waving the white flag, do you?" Brandt asked. "Don't answer. This is rhetorical."  "Wait! Um...well...should we scratch that part?" Twilight is now starting to get visibly nervous.   Now reading from her notes, Starlight suggested, "How about...cease active operations?"  "I can live with that," Akrhomeyev raised his hand.  "Seconded." Yazov followed.  The generals all nodded as Schmidt raised his hand. "That's settled then. Let's go on."  Twilight then read, "Article 3. High command of all respective forces will issue this to...the uh...Spike! What did I even write here?"  "You...need any help?" Starlight asked her mentor as she peeked at the draft. "Woah! That's...I can see you went through a lot writing this, but...I think you need rest sometimes."  As everyone in the room began to look at the two ponies in confusion, President Reagan asked, "Couldn't read your handwriting? Don't worry. It happens." As Twilight panicked more, she continued. "The appropriate commanders! Yes! That one! Anyways...and ensure all orders are carried out in accordance with this agreement. All in favor?"  Everyone raised their hands in sync again.  "Alright! Now that's the...peace treaty drafted up! Hurray!..." Twilight cheered in a very nervous voice.  Carter then said, "We still have plenty of stuff that should be added if this is to be a peace deal. This is an armistice; it still needs extra articles, nonetheless. For this to be long-term, it needs to be much more detailed."  "That's true." Schmidt sighed, "as much as I wish it were this easy to end a war, peace treaties and armistices are two different things."  Twilight started to flip through the notes she had written the night before as she showed signs of panic, and Spike kept making the third copy of the armistice.  "Uh...you okay there, comrade?" Ryzhkov asked with a face of concern.  "She's a bit nervous," Starlight replied while patting the back of Twilight, "it's her first time handling such an important talk with humans, so please bear with her...?"  "Understatement of the goddamned century," Reagan muttered.  Schmidt raised his hand and suggested, "Look, the armistice and the Peace treaty are usually signed separately. Let's sign the armistice before we move on to a peace deal."  "I don't suppose it will be in Russian and German, will it?" Akrhomeyev asked. "Which version are we taking as authentic?"  "Does it say "this armistice completely ends the fighting"? I wouldn't want this thing to expire." General Edward also asked. Spike lifted his head from writing and said, "Yes, the first paragraph says that. We looked into this before."  "Good to know. Let's carry on, shall we?" Schmidt suggested. . . . November 4th, 1008, 1605 hours Starlight Glimmer Lobby of the Castle of Friendship, Ponyville As the cameras snapped and the film kept rolling, General Edward C. Meyer, Jürgen Brandt, and Marshal Sergey Fyodorovich Akhromeyev sat down at the long square table covered with purple velvet, placed in the middle of the lobby. Twilight Sparkle and her brother Shining Armor, who just got here in time for the signing, sat at a similar short table and left to the one where the humans sat. Starlight Glimmer took a deep breath, walked up in front, and asked, "Alright. Have all of the representatives here familiarized themselves with the agreement of completely ending the fighting between the United States of America, the Provisional Government of European Nations, and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics?" "Yes." All three of the generals at the table gave out their answers. "Are the representatives of the United States Armed Forces, European Military Commission, and Soviet Armed Forces ready to sign the armistice?" Starlight asked, getting three "yes" as an answer again. She then handed out the three copies of the armistice, in Ponish, German and Russian, translated by the translation spell. They all wrote, "This act is drawn up in English/Ponish, and are the only authentic texts." All three humans picked up the pens on the table and put their signatures on them. They also passed around the copies until all three had the signatures of the three men in the room. Twilight and Shining then signed their names under the part where it says: IN THE PRESENCE OF On behalf of Equestria, Princess Twilight Sparkle On behalf of the Crystal Empire, Prince Shining Armor After the signatures were done, there wasn't any handshaking for the camera. All the representatives left in a hurry, leaving Starlight to pick up the signed agreements, and Twilight looked awkward with her brother, being last to leave. After temporarily parting with his sister to get a glass of water, Shining Armor ran into Carter, who also came here for a coffee. "Oh! Sorry, you're...Mr. Carter, right?" Shining asked. Carter turned and answered, "yes, I am. You're...Shining Armour, correct?" "Yes, nice to meet you, Mr. Carter." The two shook hooves and hands. "Well, one thing you should know, your sister's a bit of a nervous wreck," Carter said as he drank from his cup, "I see her almost freaking the living lights out of herself. Is she always like that?" "Yeaaaaah...it's kinda like that," Shining replied, "for a long time." "Have you considered cheering her up? I don't know, a few words of encouragement or a cup of tea?" Shining sighed, "I tried, but Twilight is...easy to panic whenever something big hits or something goes out of expectations. Believe me when I say she once panicked over not having problems to solve to write to Princess Celestia, then she decided the best course of action is to create a problem!" "Well, the way you put it, it does sound kinda serious." Carter replied, "she did get better, right?" "Yes, she did. Her friends here in Ponyville helped her overcome many things, but sometimes, something inside doesn't die that easily..." Shining Armour recalled. "Well, pressure management isn't easy. "Carter put down his mug, "I was president once, and speaking to a crowd of thousands is very nerve-wracking. A million things can go wrong, and a lot of things did. I mean, I wouldn't be ex-president now if everything went right, did it?" "I guess you have a point, but what should I tell her?" "Tell her to relax. If shit happens, then it happens. Panicking only makes things worse." Carter looked at his watch, "it's nice talking to you, but I still got some talks to attend, catch you later." Shining Armour walked away, thinking about what the human had just said. At the same time, Twilight Sparkle tidied her notes for the peace deal and headed for the conference room. On her way, her brother caught up and said."Twilly? Before you go back in, I would like to...say something. You...are still nervous about screwing up, aren't you?" "No, I'm okay, but thanks for asking!" Twilight forced a smile on her face. "Twilight, Mr. Carter told me about how nervous you were at the meeting. You had come a long way from when you ran out of friendship problems and freaked out, but you still have another long way to go. Relax. Panicking only makes everything worse." Shining said. "...I will try my best." Twilight hugged her brother. "Good luck," Shining replied as he returned the hug. As the two parted ways, Shining couldn't help but wish for the best for her sister. . . . November 4th, 1984, 1740 hours General Secretary Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev Meeting room/ Library of the Castle of Friendship, Ponyville "So, we are basically independent with our armed forces as long we live with the ponies and help Equestria when needed?" Gorbachev leaned forward, "autonomy of the highest level...sounds a bit too good to be true, but I like it." "Seconded."Yazov followed. Twilight let out a relaxing sigh, thinking: Finally! It worked out in the end altogether! Peace of our ti- "If you don't mind, can I ask a question?" Ryzhkov asked, "So, we are practically semi-independent republics within Equestria, is that correct?" "Yes! The concept is-" "Well, we know it already. It's just that the Soviet Union's full name is the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. We do not have enough of everyone to revive all 15 member states, but it's funny if we have member republics within an autonomous republic. It's like a matryoshka doll if you get what I mean." "Maybe consider breaking up then, Mr. Gorbachev," Reagan suggested. Akrhomeyev stared at Reagan, then said in a stern voice, "The day the Union dissolves is the day I will die." Reagan replied, "Jesus Christ, have some humor, would ya?" Twilight, seeing a potential argument that could render the talks null, immediately diverted the topic, "well, as long as the ponies living there don't get forcefully removed or discriminated on an extreme level, I am sure you can add as many republics within your...republic!" "Technically, it's a Union of Republics," Ryzhkov said. "Jesus Ryzhkov, we know that already." General Edward said, leaning back on his chair with his arms crossed. Meanwhile, outside the windows at the level of the bookshelf, Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie watched everything and listened in. "Pinkie, I have the greatest idea for a prank, like ever." Rainbow excitedly whispered, "it's going to blow their minds!" "Ooh! Ooh! Does it involve the party cannon?" Pinkie Pie excitedly said. "Well, this meeting is a teensy bit important for millions of humans looking for a new home...but I'm sure they will appreciate a harmless prank!" Rainbow said as she took out her Walkmare. "Remember that time I scared the midnight rail workers with the ghostly sounds?" "Ooh! Yes!" Pinkie replied, "are you gonna do it again?" "Even better! I am going to go lower the walkmare with this string here, and when they approach to get it, you show up at the front door with your party cannon!" "I LOOOOOVE THIS PLAN!" Pinkie excitedly shouted. As Pinkie Pie made her way toward the front door, the humans and the two ponies inside the library were still talking about the finishing touches. Schmidt stood up, then said, "now, gentlemen and mares, I would like to thank everyone for their efforts to strive for peace and harmony upon this land. It will be a long process, but what we did here today is a large step toward that goal. Future generations...hold on a second, what is that noise?" Something from the other end of the library is playing ghostly sounds, a bit faint but still audible at the table. "It...it sounds like someone breaking in!" Yazov exclaimed, "get security! It could be a changeling!" "Oh, that's Rainbow Dash. She's always the trickster." Starlight Glimmer said, "no need to panic." Starlight finished her sentence at the millisecond the door blew open with Pinkie Pie shouting, "Surprise!" while firing her party cannon, unleashing a shower of confetti on everyone at the table. Yazov panicked and almost fell out of his chair, shouting, "OH MY GOD!" Everyone turned their confetti-covered heads to look at Pinkie Pie and the Secret Service, Protection Squadron, and GRU personnel holding Pinkie Pie at gunpoint, screaming in their languages. "Twilight, I think they liked it!" Pinkie excitedly said, not exactly paying attention to the phrases "down on the ground" and "hands in the air," plus more colorful words added in with at least four different languages. Twilight facehoofed and said, "uh, Pinkie? I don't think the security team really appreciates your humor." President Reagan said, "the princess here is correct, and whoever hippie is up there, knock it off with the sounds!" "Oh...sorry, I guess?" Rainbow Dash apologized with an embarrassed smile as Pinkie was escorted out of the room. "You sure hang out with some overexcitable bunch," General Edward C. Meyer remarked, "how about some...basic manners and discipline? " "General, cut the princess some slack. How often do they have to deal with something this serious?" Carter replied as he got some confetti out of his hair. "Sorry about that, everypony. Would Mr. Schmidt please continue?" Starlight Glimmer announced. "Gladly. As I was saying, future generations will thank us for the things we have done..." . . . "...even what we did here today is phenomenal, we shouldn't be celebrating so fast right now, as this is just the first step in many. We must remember the road to peace is never meant to be easy, but it is the one we must pursue, or we, the humans, will be doomed to repeat the same mistakes as we once did." Everyone in the dining room, including the journalists allowed in, clapped as Schmidt raised his glass of apple cider. "Prosit!" "To our new home and gracious hosts."Gorbachev raised his glass as well. "To America." Reagan also raised his glass. After that, the diners at the table started to talk to each other. "Alright, that is certainly the most bizarre talk I have ever been to," Carter said to Ryzhkov, sitting next to him, "but it's for the greater good, right?" "Sure is, comrade Carter." "Just drop the comrade stuff for once." Nearby, Rainbow Dash was talking to General Brandt. "Really, what did you think when you played that prank on us? If we had weapons, we'd be shooting you and your pink-maned friend over there to pieces!" "Sorry...I just thought it would be fun to...play a harmless joke on you all." Rainbow lowered her head. "Good. Next time, don't do it again. Changeling infiltrators are not a joke, and as far as we know, thousands of ponies suffer every year from this." Brandt told Rainbow in a parenting tone. "Oof...about that, sorry...how about a cupcake to make up for the prank?" Pinkie Pie appeared out of nowhere with a cupcake in her hoof. Brandt sighed, then took the cupcake. "Apology accepted, Miss Pie." "Aww, no need to be this formal. Just call me Pinkie!" "I insist." As everyone was chatting or eating their meal, Princess Twilight sighed a big breath of relief. "See? I told you relaxing would work." Shining Armor patted her on the back. Twilight smiled, "thank you, Shiny." She then picked up her hayburger and took a massive bite out of it. "Mmmm! Irt hash been sho long shince I last hard this!" Shining chucked. Somethings never die, huh? Reagan, watching this from his table, asked General Edward, "can we have jelly beans supplied to every guest that would visit us in the future?" "That...can be arranged, Mr. President," Edward replied somewhat skeptically. . . . November 5th, 1984, 1000 hours Chancellor Helmut Schmidt, President Ronald Reagan, General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev somewhere in the Apple family orchard, Ponyville Under the camera, the three leaders of the human world signed their names on the agreement to finally end the third world war and become part of this brave new world. As all three finished signing all the copies of what is now referred to as the "Sweet Apple Agreement," Twilight and her brother also signed the agreement, rendering it in effect. All three leaders shook hands under a metric ton of camera flash and snapping sounds. "Well, ladies and gentlemen, we have done it," Reagan said to the camera, "now, this is where the job really begins; rebuilding. We will rebuild humanity greater than-" A balloon that is tied to a tree nearby suddenly pops. "Missed me," Reagan immediately said, "...than before. Thank you." The few human journalists cracked a laugh as the other two leaders grinned, leaving the ponies looking understandably confused. "Little inside joke, we will explain later." Schmidt said to the journalists, "It is...a long story." "President Reagan, what do you think of mutual cooperation between humans and ponies?" a journalist from The Canterlot Sunrise asked. "Oh, I absolutely believe in it, son. With our powers combined, we are going to Mars!" Reagan jokingly said. Gorbachev also joked about this, "well, comrade, I am thinking more of going to planet Uranus." "Princess Twilight! You didn't answer my question from last time!" a journalist from the Baltimare Daily shouted, "do humans eat fillies?" Twilight looked up and announced formally, "as all evidence has shown, humans don't eat other sentient beings. They call this cannibalism, and it is highly frowned upon by everyone. Hopefully, this question will be less serious and more of a joke later." "Mr. Chancellor Schmidt, do you plan to visit Canterlot anytime soon?" "Secretary Gorbachev, what do you think of the royal sisters?" "Mr. President! What do humans eat for lunch?" "Princess Twilight! Do you trust the humans?" "Will Carter be running for president again?" "Can we eat the Soviet Union?" "Hey! Does anyone have extra ink for their pen?" "Prince Shining Armour, is the rumor of you and Cadance going to hayburger for dates true?" The scene got quite rowdy as journalists continued to press questions on everyone and the ones on the other side tried to answer them one by one. One thing is for sure. Future generations shall thank the Sweet Apple Agreement and the people who ensured it could be a thing.