//------------------------------// // Chapters 4 // Story: Pony Veracity (Return to Mount Aris) // by keithsterling //------------------------------// Two hours later, in the great hall (formally the throne room) in the Castle of Friendship, the senior members of the Silverlight Antiquities and Heritage Research team sit around a huge round holographic tactical table discussing the logistics of mounting an expedition to Mount Aris. Since starting the meeting, the stark reality has set in with a loss of magic, and it returns all the usual ways to get to Mount Aris are problematic now. Miss Adelpha Silverstream, the hippogriff/Seaponys from Mount Aris, Galactic Knight Lieutenant Commander Clio Quasar and Galactic Knight Major Erato Aureola attended the meeting from ‘IAS Stellar Eclipse’ Justice's warship. All the senior members have added Imperial Alicorn mares to the senior staff of the Silverlight Antiquities and Heritage Research team. "Let's see what Galactic Vanguard Staff Sergeant Thalia Starburst and Galactic Vanguard second lieutenant Endora Solar Storm find out from their research…If those two mares agree, a land-based expedition is the only way to reach Mount Aris. We will begin preparation immediately…That means Twilight Sparkle and Rarity Radiance will lead the expedition to Mount Aris.” Justice explains as the gold-trimmed fanlight door opens up onto the great hall. The click-clack of heels on the ceramic tiles of the great hall echo in the room as Galactic Vanguard second lieutenant Endora Solar Storm walks in attired in the standard mare's uniform of Imperial Alicorn military personnel. Which consists of a short-sleeve white regular fit button-down shirt with a galactic blue (medium dark shade of cyan-blue) knee-length skirt; on her eleven-inch tapered shaped light gray bare feet were two-inch high black high heel pumps. At first glance, it looks like she is wearing her pumps barefooted, but on closer inspection, she is wearing nude-colored no-show nylon liner socks. The nylon liner socks show a little bit of her toe cleavage. And folded on her back were her silver bio-mechanical feathered bird wings. Plus, on her head, between her ears, behind her horn was a sky blue beret with a gold stylized star pin. In her hand was a holographic computerized clipboard with all the research notes she had been compiling as requested by Imperial Prince Silverlight and assisted by Galactic Vanguard Staff Sergeant Thalia Starburst, the reconnaissance specialist. She saunters to the huge round holographic tactical table, making her way toward Imperial Prince Justice Silverlight; once she reaches the position, she hands him a small holographic data cube. As Justice plugs the data cube into the holographic tactical table control board, it flashes once before the hologram of the Planet of Equus is replaced with a topographic map of Equestria marked on the map are three stars, one location is Bridlewood Forest; the second location is Zephyr Heights, and final location is Maretime bay. And situated in a small valley below Zephyr Heights marked with a red 'X' was the remains of the ancient settlement of Ponyville, the Castle of Friendship, and the School of Friendship. A subtle smile and a blink of surprise appear on Justice's face hearing the light pip-plop of mare’s naked feet on the ceramic tiles of the great hall as Galactic Vanguard second lieutenant Endora Solar Storm removed her pumps and nylon liner socks. So the click-clack of the heel on her shoes wouldn’t interfere with the briefing. Endora slides her fingers over her holographic computerized clipboard in her arms as a solid red line from the red 'X' weaves its way down south on the holographic tactical table in front of the group before ending at the possible location of Mount Aris in the transition point between the sparkling sea and the Luna Ocean in an area called the sea of clouds. Before Endora begins speaking, several other solid black lines appear on a holographic tactical table from various other locations in Equestria before disappearing in the areas around the possible site of Mount Aris. “My Intel team and Galactic Vanguard Staff Sergeant Thalia Starburst recon unit have gone through several maps of Equestria trying to plot the fastest and safest routes to Mount Aris in the south but have come up with nothing. It looks like the imperial prince was right; the only way to get to Mount Aris is by a land-based expedition from the Castle of Friendship to Mount Aris." Endora explains as the light pip-plop of her naked feet stops next to Justice's seat at the table, and she places her hand on his shoulder as the strategy meeting continues in the great hall. Several hours later, after the end of the strategy meeting with the logistics for the land-based expedition to Mount Aris in full swing, the downtime allowed Imperial Prince Justice Silverlight a well-needed rest. A moment later, Justice heard the click-clack of heels on the ceramic tiles floor; walking up behind him on the castle balcony as he turned around, approaching him was Galactic Knight Major Erato Aureola, attired in the standard mare’s uniform of Imperial Alicorn military personnel. Of all the mares that serve under him, Galactic Knight Major Erato Aureola is the one he has the most interaction with, not only because she is his group leader for his fighter group, aboard his ship but his confidante as well as the younger sister of his first love Knight Candidate Clotho Aureola who was killed many space cycle ago why flying an untested Aerospace fighter. Erato catches the faint smile on Justice's snout not only for her impeccable timing but she wearing the nude colored no show nylon liner socks that makes her look like she wearing her pumps barefooted, plus those liner socks can be removed easily, revealing the very sensitive bare soles of her feet. "Greetings, Justice, May I ask you something?" Erato asked as she joined Justice in front of the balustrade of the castle balcony. "Greeting Erato, sure Major what?" Justice asked, friendly as Erato and he walked over to a finely carved stone bench on the balcony; she hopped up onto the top rail of the balcony and crossed her long imperial Alicorn legs, one knee tossed casually over the other in front of her. “After the unexpected arrival of the ‘IAS Stellar Eclipse' your ship…Your wife told me I remind her of terran unicorn mare you knew…Who was that terran unicorn mare that I reminded your wife of?" Erato asked as she noticed Justice's face etched with sorrow went she asked about her. “Come to think about it, Erato (grins), I never thought about her till now and compare you to her…But my wife is right; you share many qualities with her." Justice comments as he slips the pump off her elevated tapered-shaped foot before removing her nylon liner sock, revealing the very sensitive bare sole of her foot. “Her name was first Lieutenant Emerald Luster…she was my Executive Officer. I was disguised as a Unicorn stallion working for my then girlfriend Celestia Borealis and her sister Luna Borealis." Justice comments as he holds her supple, round heel in his hand. "Emerald Luster…what a unique name…Surely you didn't just have her working for you, Justice?" Erato commented as Justice examined the barefoot on his confidante…his very loyal mare. "Not at all, Erato…The other mare that worked for me was first Lieutenant Anita Stormchaser…She was a Pegasus and my operations officer…the combination of a unicorn and Pegasus helped me greatly…but those two mares had a small friendly rivalry." Justice explains as he continues studying his confidante barefoot in his hand. "Tee-hee…that sound like Clio and me…having that little friendly rivalry. You know Justice if you think about it? Maybe Galactic Knight Lieutenant Commander Clio Quasar is the reborn soul of first Lieutenant Anita Stormchaser. If those mares were just as loyal as you say…Who can say they didn't become us? Which would mean we are your terran mares reborn in Imperial Alicorn Body?" Erato said profoundly as Justice began to believe it might be valid from how well Erato cared for her feet, Just like Emerald did. This was the first time he got a good look at Galactic Knight Major Erato Aureola's foot. Sense something Erato using her telekinesis, floated her other pump and nylon liner sock off her foot, leaving her barefooted. Being held in the palms of his hands were a magnificent pair of flawless and unblemished dim gray colored ten and one-third inch slender and elegant tapered shaped bare feet. The arches on both her feet had a delicate curve that led into a smooth round ball of her feet, and why other ends of her arches led into supple, round heels. Continue up to shapely toe stems topped with ten symmetrical shaped toes; each toenail is beautifully trimmed, shaped, and painted with pale gold colored nail polish. The skin on the bottom of her feet was creamy soft with no hint of roughness or callousness due to the outstanding care of her feet she does. A slight floral scent wafts off her feet, something the Imperial Alicorns mare picks up from the terran mares. In the windswept grassy plains of southern Equestria, war drums reverberate across the area; these war drums belong to many buffalo herds that roam the grassy plains. Went Twilight's three crystals shattered, several buffalo herds saw this as a sign to take back the grassy plains from the infestation of pony kind. Quickly Chief little Strongheart took control of the growing ire toward Pony kind and Appleloosa; she quickly ended the returning hatred. But something that buffalos and ponies didn't know was she was dying of her weak heart. So before she moved on to Great Plains in the sky, she went to the leaders of Appleloosa and told them to abandon the town of Appleloosa. Because went she moves on, the new chief of buffalo herds would attack the town, trying to chase pony kind out of the grassy plains forever. The leaders of Appleloosa told chief little Strongheart that they were leaving anyway as the supplies from the interior of Equestria had ceased to arrive at this frontier town. The day after the death of chief little Strongheart, the new chief of buffalo herds attacked the city, but by that time, Appleloosa was a ghost town. Without the infestation of pony kind to focus on, the old buffalo herd's rivalry sprung up again, throwing the grassy plains into the buffalo wars. Once again, the click-clack of heels on the ceramic tiles floor of the hallways echoes in the Castle of Friendship as Galactic Knight Lieutenant Commander Clio Quasar searches for Imperial Prince Justice Silverlight on her holographic computerized clipboard is latest Intel report from the Recon Escort patrol from Southern Equestria. Not serving as Justice's first officer aboard his warship, Miss Quasar serves as the Imperial Prince's adjutant along with Galactic Knight Major Erato Aureola. As Clio continues down the hallway, she eventually hears great gusts of mare's laughter from a nearby balcony and begins to follow it. Before long, she came around a corner on the balcony with his arms wrapped securely around Galactic Knight Major Erato Aureole's slender ankles; the imperial prince; was running his fingers up and down on Erato's highly sensitive dim gray bare soles, throwing her into uncontrollable laughter. Oddly enough, Galactic Knight Major Erato Aureola was immensely enjoying the assault on her highly sensitive dim gray bare soles by the imperial prince. The other odd thing was that Galactic Knight Lieutenant Commander Clio Quasar had this overwhelming need to rip the heels and nude-colored no-show nylon liner socks off her highly sensitive cool gray bare soles and surrender her feet to the imperial prince. 'No, I can't think like that…I am an officer in the infinity star sector Royal battle fleet…But still, my bare soles are calling to the imperial prince to punish them….No!!!’ Clio thought as she turned the corner and forged ahead onto the balcony with her holographic computerized clipboard in hand. “You’re Imperial Highness!! I have been looking for you!” Clio said boldly with authority catching the attention of both Imperial Alicorns. At this time, Justice released his grip around the slender ankles of Galactic Knight Major Erato Aureola, his second adjutant. As Erato gulps much-needed oxygen into her oxygen-deprived lungs, Justice walks over to Galactic Knight Lieutenant Commander Clio Quasar. Once Erato regained her lost breath, the soft pip-plops of her highly sensitive dim gray bare soles could be heard walking up behind the imperial prince. “Yes, number one….what is it?” Justice asked as Clio swiped her fingers over her holographic computerized clipboard in her hand, calling up a mini topographic map of southern Equestria. Before long, two blurry holographic still photos float mid-air in front of the three imperial Alicorns; the picture is of a huge dark brown blotch with black horns pounding on what looks like a drum. Surrounded by several other substantial dark brown marks with black horns holding in the air what look like spears. "The recon scout sent to find a safe route through Southern Equestria; send back these blurry still photos and this recording," Clio said as she swiped her fingers over her holographic computerized clipboard to play the recording. "Why, that sound like a war drum!" Justice comments as Clio stops the recording of the sound bite. "I thought that too, Justice…So I went to talk to your wife before finding you…She told me that in Equestria, there was a large number of buffalo herds…from these blurry photos and this recording…we can assume that buffalo herds survive…as for the drums, it sounds like the surviving buffalo herds might be at war with each other. Which put this expedition in the danger zone?" Clio comments as Erato gives a startled gasp at the latest Intel report. "My thought exactly, number one…Send word to Lagoon Nebula star sector to dispatch the Event Horizon Alpha." Justice ordered as both Imperial Alicorns swallowed a lump in their throat with dispatching the Event Horizon Alpha. From the largest spherical-shaped space station in the Lagoon Nebula star sector, a four-hundred-three-foot-long black stealth troop carrier shuttle departs from the docking bay of Lagoon Nebula depot. The Lagoon Nebula depot is the main headquarter for the Imperial Alicorn Tactical Corps; each star sectors within Imperial Alicorn space maintain Imperial Alicorn Tactical Corps to supplement their space fleets and military power. Of all the Imperial Alicorn Tactical corps that live and work at Lagoon Nebula depot, the most feared Imperial Alicorn Tactical corps belongs to Imperial Prince Justice Silverlight. Like the mare's pilots aboard his IAS Stellar Eclipse, the Imperial Alicorns soldiers serving in the Event Horizon are the elite in Imperial Alicorn Tactical Corps. Once again, the click-clack of heels and the slapping against the fleshy bare soles echoes onto the balcony, but this time from Imperial Princess Celestia Silverlight, attired in white floral print knee-length fit and flare dress with cognac brown open toe mule style heeled sandals with two-inch blocked heels. Across her perfectly shaped bosomy was the strap of a black leather satchel, and on the front flap of the bag was a gold circle with three gold stars in it, marking her as a timekeeper Administrator of the third circle of Great Library Citadel Station. “I see you created your satchel, my dearest.” Justice comments noticing not only the satchel on Celestia's side but the shoes she had on with her toenails painted in shimmering gold nail polish. “I did Justice, with three volumes of my Epochs in great library citadel station… Mother decided to rank me up to the third circle level." Celestia explains as she blushes to know that her husband has noticed cognac brown open-toe mule style heeled sandals with two-inch blocked heels on her feet. “I hear a rumor that you called up your Event Horizon Alpha team," Celestia commented as she walked with feline grace toward her husband. Justice blinked with surprise went she knew of the Event Horizon Alpha team. "I see that I might have accidentally passed the knowledge of my Event Horizon Alpha Team to you, Celestia…went. I transfer some of my royal duties over to you…to give you the ability to neutralize magic." Justice said as Celestia kissed him on his lips and sat on a stone bench, crossing her long Alicorn legs, one knee tossed casually over the other. "Don't worry, my love…I will never reveal the knowledge of Event Horizon teams to any pony." Celestia said reassuringly as he uncrossed her long Alicorn legs and rested her leg on his lap. "I know you will not, my dearest," Justice said, removing the sandal from her foot and bringing it up to his nose, sniffing her relatively large, long, full, thick, plush white with a hint of pink luxurious peasant-shaped barefoot. “Because you know about Event Horizon teams…you may call them up if need be. Just remember to call up the Event Horizon teams is unleashing a black hole, my love.” Justice comments as he sniffs her shapely and delicately rounded, not-too-long toes that are the perfect length for her unassuming Alicorn-size feet before returning to the discussion between them.