Pony POV Series Season Six: Dark World/Shining Armor

by Alex Warlorn


Episode 85: (Shining Armor): yrotisH-History

Pony POV Series
Shining Armor Part 4
By lz0291
Edited by Alex Warlorn, Kendell2, And Louis Badalament.

(Inteviewer's Notes (Unicorn): Captain, before we continue I wonder if you could possibly clarify the details of the Dragon-Hooviet war. I know that not many ponies in Equestria have heard anything about it.)

And it might not be a bad idea for it to stay that way.

(Inteviewer's Notes (Unicorn): Please, Shinning?)

... Very well. I should stress most of what we've heard came from the Dragons but, unlike the Hooviets, I don't think they would have any reason to lie. Queen Tiamat repeated the story in my presence, actually, when she and Princess Celestia were discussing adjustments to the truce between Dragons and Equestria. Don't ask how Princess Celestia kept that chat private. It was surreal watching the mother of all dragons and our Princess have a polite conversation over tea (Tiamat's 'teacup' being bigger than some houses. Plus, the sugar cubes were as large as shipping crates, and I wish I'd learned the name of the company that makes darjeeling teabags in that size...)

Anyway, The Hooviet Empire had expanded immensely over the last century or so, and with it, the Hooviets' narcissism. Virtually nothing had ever truly stood in their path, at least in their minds. Once, at an earlier point in history, the Hooviets begun rattling the saber against Princess Celestia hoping to goad Equestria into a war. The Princess instead sent a message to the Hooviets writing about how she preferred peace to war and just how many favors of how many nations she had built up over her several thousand year reign along with a cake as a gift of friendship. Somehow, they were able to construe this as having scored a victory of sorts over her. This allowed them to back away from the unwinnable fight against our Sun Goddess with their egos intact.

They thought the whole world would bow to them eventually, and they did not think Dragons were exempt. And so, about thirty or so years ago, they somehow decided that the Dragons nesting in a mountain range in the center of their lands were now Hooviet citizens - and thus, Hooviet property. Then they demanded the Dragons pledge allegiance to the Hooviet powers, allow mining operations to take place, relinquish their hoards, submit to taxation and reeducation of their young, etcetera, etcetera.

To the Hooviets, that made perfect sense. Even a young Dragon's hoard represented a source of huge wealth, and Dragons are renowned for being individualistic. That a number of them were in close proximity in the mountains made the Hooviets think the mountains held something very good indeed. After all, adult Dragons stayed away from each other unless they wished to breed or it was the once-a-century Great Dragon Migration. And while a lone Dragon is an army unto itself, the Hooviets assured themselves the Dragons didn't have the sense of cooperation to bake a cake, let alone fight a war. Numbers would win the day.

They failed to take one vital factor into account: Her Majesty, the Goddess-Queen Tiamat. The world's most powerful Dragon. The Alicorn Sisters are only living beings I know that have earned Tiamat's respect -- yet her own personal stockpile of gems and gold is rather spartan compared to most other Dragons. This is because Tiamat's true treasure, as far as she's concerned, is nothing less than all Dragonkind, itself. Every Dragon alive was her subject, and therefore, her treasure. I have no idea how Celestia acquired Spike's egg, but I know one thing: she sure as Pony Hell didn't steal it.

Few things can enrage a dragon more than thievery. And while dragons were isolationist to their own kind, and the distance between most adult dragons could fit small countries, when Her Majesty spoke, ALL Dragons listened.

It lasted a week. Tiamat's call was answered by nearly half of Dragonkind. In less than twelve hours, they swept past the border defenses that a national equine army could besiege for months without success. And so began a week of bloodshed and slaughter in the skies and soil of the southern Hooviet Empire.

The Hooviets would go on to lose more in that week than they had in their efforts to bring all Deer tribes under one banner. Countless lives lost, hundreds of Airships destroyed, whole towns and cities rendered into so many mounds of ash - buildings and citizens alike.

Their fiery breath made short work of armor on ships, and of stonework in castles and forts. Often the young dragons would gleefully take relaxing baths in the molten slag that had once been a garrison of five thousand Deer soldiers.

Yet the Dragons hit upon a problem. The Hooviets simply did not give up and threw everything into the battle. It had gone beyond a question of resources now; this was about revenge. The Hooviets were angry, not at their losses, but at the fact someone had dared to stand against them. Attacked them. For the Hooviets, the dragons were already dead, the great lizards just didn't know it.

But these were not idealistic school-fawns leading slaves against professional soldiers, nor were they outdated, outnumbered warrior bucks defending their deer tribe from the Hooviet's greedy clutches. These were forces of nature clad in scales and claws. And they too had egos that would inflict untold suffering for being so badly bruised.

The Hooviet's pulled in all its reserves and even dared pull back some of its occupation forces. The land and sky of the southern part of the Hooviet Empire became a firestorm. Many younger, impetuous Dragons thought they could take on fleets of ships alone, head on, and suffered for it. Any that lived never repeated the mistake.

Even older Dragons, with thick scales that made them stronger than a castle, fell. They could shrug off swords, spears, arrows, even direct hits with cannonballs, but if they were hit in weak spots like the eyes or a roaring mouth, they would fall too. Broadsides from battleships could fell them if enough hit home. And then there was always the risk of simply being overwhelmed by Hooviet numbers and firepower; a death comparable to being stung to death by legions of hornets.

And so the losses wound up too great for the Dragons. Their sense of unity was fragile enough. Dissension grew in the ranks: many Dragons came to blows with each other over all sorts of friction: stealing treasures, stealing kills, or simply getting in the way of each other. Dragons actually began tearing into each other right on the battlefield with the enemy surrounding them while the Hooviets maintained their machine like discipline and efficiency.

In the end, all the Dragons decided they'd done enough and wanted to just go home. Then Queen Tiamat herself entered the fray. It shocked every dragon to their core. Queen Tiamat, the legend herself, coming all this way? Raising a claw to help her dragons personally? That, more than anything, convinced the dragons to stay the course. For the remainder of the war, Tiamat never set foot on the battlefield. She didn't need to. She did (and has) unparalleled endurance as a flier. But that wasn't why she didn't need to enter the actual battle zone. She also has five heads, all of which are capable of shooting fireballs at a range, accuracy, and deadliness that exceeded those of any Hooviet weapon at the time.

The Dragons didn't dare fight among themselves with a silhouette like hers blotting out the sun on the horizon. And all five of her heads were equally smart, fearless, and committed to victory.

(Inteviewer's Notes (Pegasus): For the record, do Tiamat's heads have individual egos? And if so, did they ever argue between themselves?

In answer to your first question: yes. In answer to your second question: no. Sneak attacks failed. Kamikazes were wasted. To say it was like a Neighponese 'giant monster' show is the understatement of the century. Tiamat made a viable tsunami of destruction far ahead of her, wherever she flew. The Hooviet commanders were shocked at having an enemy they could destroy them without even providing them a viable target.

By the time she'd reached the Hooviet capitol, her envoys were demanding a king's ransom for every dragon that had been slain. Entire museums were stripped clean to meet the tribute.

After claiming her mountain of spoils, (and eating the bomb they'd buried within like it was pop-rocks), Tiamat simply left. The dragons hastily followed.

Both sides claimed victory.

(Inteviewer's Notes (Earth Pony): What?! How could the HOOVIETS claim victory?!

The Hooviets... well, they happily buried their heads in the sands of propaganda. Suddenly, the South had been dragon lands from the beginning. Suddenly, the Dragons had been the ones to attack unprovoked. Suddenly, invaders had been repelled, not a force seeking to liberate and protect allies.

(Inteviewer's Notes (Unicorn): And the priceless treasures the dragons had seized?

Overrated relics, to hear it from the Hooviets. Out with those worthless, six-hundred year old trash 'masterpieces!' In with new work of fresh young artists!

And so, the earth that the Dragons had scorched became 'captured' land: a new frontier for settlers! And the few surviving witnesses outside the military or the ruling castes with a DIFFERENT story to tell, could be easily taken care of by the Secret Police.

(Interviewer's Notes (Earth Pony): But the Dragons were the REAL winners, right?

Beyond question! They had inflicted massive damage on their cervine foe. To this day, the Hooviets dare not return to the Mountains for fear of upsetting the Dragons again. The Deer are still rebuilding. Over half their fleet was destroyed. The only reason their capitol was is not a blazing crater is because Tiamat prefers treasures to kills. Such losses would have annihilated any other nation. By all natural rights, the Hooviets should have fallen. Therefore, they absolutely could not allow themselves to have lost.

In a way, that's what makes the Hooviets worrying. Dragons, well, no need to understand why they're worrying. The Hooviet-Dragon war simply reminded us, yet again, that Dragons are powerful and we're very glad to not be on their bad side. But on the flip side, the war shows the Hooviets were determined, fanatical, and worst of all, ready to take any risk.

Probably the worst thing though in my view? It's something my tutors at the academy said when teaching history and tactics. 'Generals always plan to fight the last war again.'

The modern Hooviets have rebuilt their new forces on the assumption it needs to be able to take on Dragons, scratch that, Tiamat herself! They'll have fully recovered very soon and have completely reorganized their military style and command structure. If they think they're really ready to take on all of Dragonkind, they just might decide to subjugate everything else first, just to make it that much easier. And an army built to take on Tiamat I'd rather avoid.

And that's it really. Back to the real story now, please?

(Inteviewer's Notes (Unicorn): Yes, of course. Thank you for your summary of events... Captain.)


Once our discussions on security were concluded, and Cadence had agreed to have the civilians with us escorted by Guards if they ever left the embassy or ships to visit the city proper, Cadence decided she wanted to speak to Corporal Griffen during lunch. After that, we were supposed to be telling the civilians what to expect, informing them of security arrangements, and so on.

"Which means we kind of need to speak to him now, if we want anything he might know," Cadence stated. I made arrangements for Griffen to attend.

She allowed both Griffen and I to have our lunch brought to her room, accidentally starting a rumor that the Princess anticipated a lot of fish on the menu in Columbia when the cooks were asked to prepare a slice of fish-in-birdseed-breadcrumb. While we waited on it, though, we began discussing.

"So, Corporal, we were hoping you could maybe give us some direct experience with the Griffin lands..." Cadence began. For a half-eagle half-lion, the NCO looked remarkably sheepish.

"Er, sorry, ma'am, but all I really know is from my parents, aunt, and uncle. I was born in Trottenham."

Both of us failed to hide the brief glare of shock and dismay.

"But I don't really follow Hoofball!" He added quickly.

"Well, it should be enough," Cadence collected herself, "Well, is there anything you CAN tell us, in terms of what to expect?"

"Hm. My mother used to say she thought Equestrians were a bit more polite and friendly than folks back in Columbia. And she was always a little surprised Equestria didn't have police - not dedicated police, at least. The Guard and Sheriffs are all that's needed."

Quick note for those who may be unaware, that's all that's in smaller towns, but the Royal Guard provide patrols and response to any problems in large cities, in what we call the 'Community Support Initiative'. Usually, it's conducted in support of a Sheriff and his or her deputies, but larger cities generally have at least one Guard officer on a long term detachment to the civil authorities, and often the ones that get a bit of a reputation for being a little strange. One CSI officer in Miamhay for instance, keeps making one liners and putting on sunglasses. I am fully convinced he is related to Running Gag.

"I know of them, the Liberty City Police Department is actually larger than law enforcement throughout Equestria, technically," Cadence said.

"Yes. That's the other thing. There's dangerous crime in Griffin lands, not just cake thieves. So if anyone goes out of the embassy they might want a guard..."

"We've anticipated that," I said.

"Oh, I see, Sir. I'm not saying they'll get robbed if they go outside, but Equestrians would probably look like easy targets to your average Liberty City mugger. It's not all bad though. Liberty has a good metro system, lot like Canterlot's, sort of, kinda. Supposed to be some nice parks and museums, Broadneigh shows are pretty famous. The buildings are taller, but I think there are less flight restrictions across LC outside of the Air Harbors and Airship paths. Really, I think the best thing to expect would be Equestria, but different and with more Griffins. And Diamond Dogs. Some Deer as well. Oh, and Zebra."

"What about Minotaurs?" Cadence wondered

"Mostly in Carcer City or in the Marines, Ma'am."

"So, Equestria with more of a melting pot diversity. I presume that finding pony food won't be a problem if anyone wants to sample the local fare?"

"A problem? Pretty unlikely, Sir. My uncle keeps trying to convince me to visit just to have a genuine Liberty City pizza. Keeps complaining his daughter's never tried the real thing either since she was raised in Cloudsdale. But vegetarians are seen as quirky, rather than deviants like meat-eaters are in Equestria. Anyway, I guess the only other thing is that Liberty has more carts on the roads I think. Some of them are even magic-powered."

"Okay, so... Equestria, but different and more crowded," I nodded.

"Sounds to me like Liberty is going to be Manehattan on steroids," Cadence noted.


We hoped that after lunch, we'd be briefing the civilians, and then soon after, arriving at Liberty City for about a fourteen-thirty hours' landing, and being settled in at the embassy for four. The first part went well enough - many of them were civil servants, and the rest were mostly part of Cadence's rather small entourage of hoofmaidens, dressmakers and so on.

Apparently at least half of our civilian entourage were only there because the nobility were surprised to learn she'd never had a personal tennis coach and so forth. She'd swiftly convinced the two chefs to simply work with the existing cooks aboard, which was fine by all concerned. Dealing with the civvies was simple enough. The odd question was asked and answered where possible with Griffen's help. In the end, the civvies all knew the score. They were to move in groups, let the embassy security know where they were, and would be escorted by at least one of our troopers and a local police officer. And were advised by Griffen about various useful social cues to watch out for when it came to Griffins. And told any steaks or meat products they saw was not from any intelligent being.

Overall, things seemed to be going fine. We were on track to arrive, no crisis had affected the journey,though I was still a little wary of the fact my little sister was apparently in control of a powerful magical artifact and had fought a goddess, I don't know if it's a good or bad thing if Princess Celestia lets her keep it. And it sounded like the Griffin land we were heading for wasn't going to be too huge a culture shock, Hooviets notwithstanding. I simply made last-minute checks while I waited.

And yes, it probably is genetic. But it's served us both in good stead.

Naturally things went a bit pear-shaped about five minutes after we'd finished speaking to the civilians.

"This is the Captain speaking. Could Commander Sparkle and Princess Cadenza please report to the bridge as soon as possib... Oh, hello, Your Highness. Erm, how did the hair brush get there this time?"

A few moments later, I arrived at the bridge to find Commander Shepard and her senior bridge crew all present (Her First Officer, Lieutenant Commander Hornblower, plus Lieutenant Commander Bond), along with Cadence, Sunset, Twinkleshine, and Minuette. Cadence was at that moment being aided by her hoofmaidens, who were trying to untangle an unexpected hairbrush from her mane. The two Lieutenant Commanders were speaking with ensigns and lieutenants.

"Commander Sparkle. We have a small problem. We've been in communication with the Columbians, and they've informed us that it's unlikely we'll be able to land in our prearranged time-slot. Apparently the Hooviet arrival was somewhat unannounced..." Shepard said.

"Isn't that a little bit -ow, stop tugging! - dangerous?" Cadence asked.

"Very much so, but the arrival of the Hooviets was known to Columbians. The size of their ships was not." Hornblower said. He was an Earth Pony officer, and somehow I kept thinking he should have had a beard.

"They had more ships with them than they said were coming?" I put in.

"Not quite. The Hooviets were honest when they said they were sending three ships. But it's a battleship and two cruisers," Bond then clarified.

"Okay, so, they had to find bigger landing spaces for them. Why is that a problem for us?" Cadence spoke.

"Because apparently, whoever is in charge of the Hooviets is a big shot. Supreme Marshal of the Imperial Armed Forces, General-Admiral Solomon Azure Raven Makarov. He demanded, and received, a full military welcome. Which meant that most of the Griffin airships helping control the traffic in the bay had to wait an hour while his ships floated slowly between them all," Shepard said.

"Ah. I understand we were supposed to receive a smaller greeting by the Columbian Navy?" Cadence said.

"Correct. We were supposed to fly between two battleships straight to our airship docks. However, they're now trying to get that back into position and the rest of the traffic in the area has cause a bit of a jam."

I frowned.

"How can you get into a jam with airships?"

"It's quite simple, Commander. The Griffins prefer all ships approaching the city to enter Liberty Bay, past the Wings of Liberty..."

"The what?"

"Really big statue like in Manehatten."

"Oh."

"So it meaning everyone has to enter the same relatively narrow area. They're also all dropping in height with a goal to landing at that point, so there's only so much real room for the ships," Hornblower explained.

"Ah. Essentially, it's like having three pegasi fly right above another one and all three of them reach and they all try to enter the same tunnel at once."

"Something like that."

"So, what are we to do then, Captain?" Cadence asked.

"Well, Your Highness..."

"Yes! Got the hairbrush out!"

"...Your Highness, what we will have to...."

"Wait, this isn't even my hairbrush."

"...We will have to wait for traffic ahead to clear. Now, we can send on most of the delegation using our shuttles, so they can start to prepare the embassy, but I'm afraid you have to remain aboard until the Griffins are ready for us to receive the proper welcome," the Ship's Captain eventually managed to finish.

"...Oh, er, sorry about interrupting. What was that about shuttles?"

"The ship carries two of them at present, and our escort ships each carry another. The five shuttles should be able to get the delegation and the majority of Commander Sparkle's troopers on shore for our time of arrival. As they're smaller, they can go between gaps. We should be about ten minutes from meeting a Griffin AAC, the Galactica, and they'll..."

Shepard paused as a hoofmaiden raised a hoof.

"Erm, sorry, Captain, but what's an AAC?" Minuette asked.

"Airborne Airship Carrier. Basically, a large Airship that carries smaller Airships. Fairly new concept, actually. Most other airships just carried small shuttle transports before, having a capital ship dedicated to carrying patrol and attack craft is..."

Shepard realized everyone who was not a member of the Air Navy was looking at her in confusion. She sighed.

"A capital ship is a large ship, like a battleship. Patrol craft and attack craft are small airships ranging in size from about a train carriage to a small house. They're meant to help defend larger ships, or be used to attack other ships. You all know about the shuttles, right?"

Everypony nodded.

"So, we'll send everyone but me and a few of Shining Armor's troopers on ahead when we meet the Griffin carrier thingy, and then wait for a spot to be seated or parked or docked or whatever it is?" Cadence then asked.

"That's about the size of it."

"Alright. Girls, you three all go on ahead and get the embassy ready."

The hoofmaidens nodded and dashed off.

"I'll have my crew explain the situation to the civilians for now and what's to happen, but once we're getting closer, I'm afraid you may be needed on the bridge, Your Highness. There's a large number of ships going to be waiting and a few of them might want to shout out to you," Shepard said.

"...Pardon?"

"It means they'll send the ship a message and want to speak to you over the radio. We'll also use their position to help other ships know ours to reference it," Bond added.

"Okay. But it does look pretty clear up ahead...." Cadence noted.

"It does, actually. Mostly clouds. I can't see any airships..."

"That's because they're beyond our visual range right now. In about twenty minutes we'll be amongst them."


And indeed, twenty minutes later, we were among them. About a hundred airships all floating in the air, awaiting patiently for permission to move towards the city that lay just a few miles away. We could see the vast expanse of grey buildings and cloud-structures stretching on the horizon now, with many more airships floating close to the grey line that was the city. Presently, the Galactica had spotted us, and was the first ship to send us a message.

"HHS Invincible, this is the URS Galactica. We presently have a visual on your flotilla, acknowledge?" The radio said.

"Acknowledged, Galactica, we have a visual on you also," Commander Bond replied as he and an ensign oversaw communications.

The bridge also had radios, but only the Communications Room could receive long-ranged transmissions. Anything from there could be sent up to the Bridge easily enough, though. And in this case, the bridge had the right radios to talk to a ship that was less than a thousand meters away.

"Notice, Your Highness and Gentlecolts, that Galactica has a number of rectangular sections along her port and starboard sides. Those are the hangar decks." Hornblower was telling us random trivia about the ships.

"A carrier for Pegasi air-troops would be more economic than baby airships for bigger airships," Cadence said.

By this point, I'd had my command squad of Thunderchild, Apple, and the other two idiots come up to be Cadence's bodyguard, apparently because the Air Navy insisted that Princesses not go unescorted on the bridge during complicated operations. I'd later learn it stemmed from an accident back in the days of a sea-based navy caused by a Princess who should shall remain ambiguous due to it being over a thousand years ago.

In her defense, the modern historians do agree the lighthouse did in fact come out of nowhere. Mostly because the charts of the time somehow claimed it was on the other side of the country, or somepony just read them upside down. Said Princess isn't talking.

"What's that in the ocean, there? The big star-shaped thing..." Private Audience wondered.

"Ah, yes. That's very interesting. That's a Seaborne Ship Tender, also called a 'Base Star'. The Cylon, if I'm not mistaken. They must have had it float out here in case any of the waiting ships needed an emergency dock."

Cylon looked like it was a large surface ship, able to land airships up to about the size of a destroyer on the flat central portion, and extend four long piers to allow more ships to land. When we saw her, she was almost entirely empty other than a few small patrol craft.

"A floating portable dock for airships? That's unusual, isn't it?"

"The Columbian navy is, Your Highness. You may not notice it, but there's a small dark shape under the water just aft of Cylon? That's what they call a 'submarine'. It's a sailing vessel able to go under the sea..."

I tuned out as he began speaking, seeing a number of small ships leaving Galactica and heading towards us. A few minutes later, our shuttles began flying off, escorted by a pair of Griffin patrol craft each.

"Well, there the pretty ladies go. Off to get to the embassy well before the rest of us..." Apple noted.

"You think it's going to be a long wait now, Lance-Corporal, wait until you have to go to the Hooviet Embassy..." Thunderchild reminded him as Bond turned towards us.

"All the shuttles are away, and they shouldn't need to make a return trip. We got everyone on comfortably."

"Good. We really should invest in cubic soldiers, much easier to stack..." I replied.

"Anyway, Commander Sparkle, your sergeants will probably communicate once they're at the Embassy. But for now, well... We wait for the radio to go, I guess."

"And play 'I Spy' presumably?" Cadence noted.

"I spy something beginning with B," Shepard said in response.

"Blooming loads of Airships."

"Correct, Your Highness."

"So, what ships are out there anyway?" I asked Hornblower, since he seemed to be the one in the know.

"I could probably name most of them, but I'll try and keep it brief. That one just over there is the Mexicoltian Destroyer Nezahualcoyotl. They're probably going to try and chat with us sooner or later. And there's a Neighponese flotilla just over there, behind Galactica. That ought to be the destroyer Takeshi-Jo , Frigates Mirai and Hikari..."

"Wait, are we going to to have to shout out to all of these ships in front of us?" Cadence then cut in.

"Oh, no, ma'am. Just about half of them. They won't want long conversations, just a hello, how are you, and so on," Bond replied.

"There's a lot of civilian ships by the look of things," Running Gag spoke up.

"Hey, isn't that one flying our flag? That big brownish-red one?"

"Hm, so it is. That's the Forever Autumn, she's a ferry between Manehattan and Liberty. She should have been given priority. Traffic must really be in chaos up ahead..."

"I bet that's their fault, those two big ships way off in the distance," I added, seeing two vast hulking airships a couple of miles away.

"Yes, in a way. Those are Reaper-class battleships, Sovereign and Harbinger. We'll be seeing them up close when we fly between them."

"They look like they could run over us and not notice," Thunderchild added his two bits.

"They could, actually." A social pony, Shepard was not.

"So where's the Hooviet battleship? Surely we'd see it..." Cadence wondered. She had a point.

Hornblower frowned.

"You know, I don't think I see it either. Maybe that gold building there is blocking it off. That huge one about twice the size of... Oh."

"What's 'oh,' Commander Hornblower?"

"I think the gold thing is the Hooviet ship."

It dwarfed some of the office buildings. Along the vast airship's sides were engravings of deer does in classic statuesque poses. I couldn't shake the demented thought it looked like the world's largest fliable gold brick.

"Private Gag, I hope you do not have anything inappropriate to say whilst the Princess is here," I said as the bridge fell silent.

"I do not, sir."

"Is it just me or does that thing really look like someone is compensating for something?" A voice suddenly asked.

"Who the buck was that?!" Shepard barked, and then realized her error as someone began sputtering.

"Er, me, Captain."

"Oh. Er, that's all right then, Your Highness. Commander Hornblower, are you all right?"

"Just a ticklish throat, Captain."

"Misfit Actual, this is Misfit One-One." The radio crackled, distracting us from the royal... vehicle. I'm not sure how best to phrase it.

(Interviewer's Notes (Pegasus): Item of anatomical humor?)

...That sounds even worse.

(Interviewer's Notes (Earth Pony): What-humor?)

Why do you have a foal here as an interviewer? Not that she's not cute, but war is kind of...grown up stuff.

(Interviewer's Notes (Pegasus): She has nowhere else to be.)

(Interviewer's Notes (Unicorn): Where we go, she goes.)

... Anyway, the voice on the radio was Sergeant Foaley. Or it was until I bumped into it and briefly set it to a local rock station (Griffin music of all genres tends to be pretty intense. If anyone was asleep on their feet, that woke them up). Once that had been fixed, I spoke.

"Misfit One-One, Misfit Actual, go ahead."

"Sir, we've landed at the embassy, and there's something you should know before the Princess lands..."

There was suddenly a loud clatter from the other radio.

"Ramirez! Pick up that dropped luggage!"

"He's still making that poor fellow do everything?" Thunderchild sighed.

"As I was saying, Sir, I thought you and Her Highness should know that the Griffins have decided they want to add some extra security to our embassy. Apparently, they only had a few members of a group called the Presidential Marshals here alongside our own security ponies. They want to add a squad of their Marines onto it as well, with your permission."

"Stand by, Sergeant, I'll discuss the matter with Her Highness."

I turned to Cadence, muting the radio. Or rather, having Bond mute it since he was the one who knew how it worked.

"What do you think? Should we trust the Columbians?"

"It sounds a bit like they want to make sure we're feeling safe. After all, our embassy here isn't too far from a few others. On the other hoof, it does seem a little worrying they don't trust their own security. Ask Foaley if any other Marines are being offered to other embassies."

I did so.

"Yes, Sir. The Germane Embassy next door has some, the Mexicolts have okayed it, and the Hooviets have declined an offer."

"Oh. Well, then, I suppose it's not us getting any special treatment. Sergeant, will the Marines be escorting any of our party if they venture into the city on their own?"

"Negative, Your Highness, they say the LCPD will be in charge of that."

"Well then, I have no objections. Do you, Commander Sparkle?"

"None. Carry on, Sergeant." Personally, I felt it was a good idea. Not only did it have more people on guard, it also had another advantage. I don't have any political aspirations, but I knew one thing for sure; politics was like a game of chess. Every move you made said something about you. Accepting the Columbians' offer showed we trusted the Griffins. The Hooviets being apparently the only ones to reject that same offer showed a lack of trust, or potentially that they had something to hide. It might seem small, but...

(Interviewer (Unicorn): Every small detail can make a big difference?)

Exactly, particularly when you were the guests of honor in another country.

The sergeant ended the transmission, and Shepard spoke.

"They're adding military guards when before they just had the Federal Police as security. I'm thinking something must be up. Maybe they're a little spooked by the Hooviets..."

"Or maybe they know something might be a problem for us. Maybe they're sending the Marines to other embassies to make it look like they're not trying to defend us specifically...." I then said, with a hint of paranoia.

(Interviewer's Notes (Pegasus): Gee, Captain, I'd like to taste something you think has a 'hint' of salt in it. I've never got salt-drunk in one bite before.)

"Uh, ma'ams? Sirs? What about the late sunrise this morning?" Private Gag then asked.

"What about it?" Cadence responded.

"Well, we all knew it might have been late. But... did the Griffins? Or anyone else?"

We all pondered what we knew of Princess Celestia.

"Unless we get any other evidence to support the other theories, I think that's this mystery's concluded," I said.


We did eventually find our larger ships heading for a docking space, passing between the two Columbian battleships, as well as over the vast bulk of the Hooviet ship on the way. We learned she was called the Daedalus. She had two smaller steel-colored ships alongside her,looking like tiny pebbles beside a massive diamond.

As we made our approach to the battleships, Pegasi guards attached a banner over the front of our airship with a symbol of a Hippogriff promptly displayed. When peace was declared between the Griffins and Ponies, much deliberation resulted in a Hippogriff being chosen as the symbol of that peace. Displaying it as a diplomatic airship one entered the other's territory was considered a sign of good will. The landing zone we'd be heading to would likely have a similar banner displayed.

And we got to see the massive city up close. It had towers of stone and glass that made Manehattan's lofty heights look tiny. Many taller buildings had cloud-structures floating beside them, and the inner city skies seemed to be filled with griffins and a few pegasi flying between buildings.

The Princess and my squad would be the only ones to actually get off the ship at this point, with Commander Shepard and her senior crew mostly remaining with the ship unless summoned.

As our ships landed, I became aware that there seemed to be a large number of green-dyed Griffins in the air and ground. There even seemed to be a couple of the siege engines known as tanks lying near the airship docks. It seemed the locals wanted to put on a show for the visitors. Because the troops present certainly weren't there to try and stop the local media. The hapless Griffins dyed blue that I assumed to be the police had that task.

"...Okay, is it me or do the journalists outnumber the police?" Thunderchild asked.

We managed to get past them, mostly by having my squad surround the Princess as we walked. Cadence did pause to answer a couple of questions for the local media though. She knew how to play that game, she was a trained ambassador, after all. I was paying more attention to the group of journalists, though. Something was making me feel on edge.

We rode a carriage to the embassy, leaving the media behind for the moment. It was a conventional pony-drawn carriage, hauled by four members of the Day Guard attached to the embassy. The LCPD detective that rode in with us wasn't too chatty with us soldiers (he did seem a bit constipated, to be honest), but Cadence managed to have a conversation with him. I personally at that point was glad I wasn't a Griffin. It's bad enough to have the family name Payne, but then you get called Max? And you don't have a legal right to change your name when you get your cutie mark because Griffins don't have them? Yikes.

(Interviewer's Notes (Unicorn): Did you change your name when you gained your cutie mark, Captain?)

No, I didn't, actually. Seems Mother is a little bit prescient.

Anyway, we arrived, our embassy being a relatively small apartment complex in the uptown area, given over to the Equestrian Government, flying both the Equestrian flag and the aforementioned Hippogriff banner, and Cadence greeted her hoofmaidens again. The Ambassador, Lady Warm Greetings, was also present, of course. I didn't actually speak much with Ambassador Greetings while I was there though, as she largely worked the behind-the-scenes political detail whilst the Princess was present. My only real conversation with her was about my uncle, since she had apparently attended the School for Gifted Unicorns with him until he moved into the Guard Academy.

"Anyway, Ambassador, have we heard anything further from the Hooviets?" Cadence eventually asked.

"Yes. General-Admiral Makarov has decided to hold an informal party in his embassy this evening and would like you to attend, if possible. He says it would begin at half past seven."

"And he would know I couldn't politely refuse. Looks like we'll have to have a quick dinner..."

"Indeed. Oh, one other thing, Princess Cadence. Regarding Princess Luna."

"Oh yes! How is my new, er, old Aunt doing?"

"While Princess Celestia has formally assured the world at large that the late sunrise was nothing to be alarmed about, Princess Luna, herself, has yet to be officially announced. Her Majesty has sent word to me, saying she'd appreciate it if we refrained from mentioning her at this point in time."

"I understand. Did Aunt Celestia give any indication as to when she does intend to open up about Aunt Luna?"

"Why, yes. Tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?" I said, raising an eyebrow. "Today's bad, but tomorrow's good?"

"Politics, like comedy, is often about careful timing," Cadence informed me.

"Well spoken, Your Highness." Ambassador Greetings said. "As a matter of fact, Princess Celestia has requested that you, Cadence, be the one to inform the Columbian President-Elect tomorrow. He will be the first world leader to formally learn about your other aunt..."

I walked alongside them, as did the rest of my squad and the hoofmaidens, until we reached Cadence's room. Two Griffin Marines in dark blue dress uniforms stood in the corridor there, with small crossbows in holsters on their chests, alongside a couple of other Royal Guards that seemed to be Day Guard attached to the Embassy as they certainly weren't mine. They all ignored us completely.

"Captain, could you please ready dress uniforms for your squad to attend the Hooviet party tonight as our guard escort?" Cadence asked, as she entered her room.

"Certainly, ma'am," I replied.

She thanked me, and then the door was closed.

And then Gag pointed out a problem.

"Sir, enlisted ponies don't have Dress uniforms."

"...Anyone know where we can get lots of armor polish then?"


Have any of you three ever attended the Grand Galloping Gala? I have, as a guard. I was only not bored stiff because I wasn't a guest and, well, the last time I was there Thunderchild gave us some amusement when Spitfire was nearby. The Hooviet party was a bit like that with two differences.

Unfortunately, as the officer in charge of escorting the Ambassador and the Princess, I was technically a guest this time. Lieutenant Commander Bond had been sent to represent the Air Navy, and I later learned he was also informally representing the Equestrian Secret Intelligence Service. At the time though I was thankful that another officer was there in Dress uniform, even if it was white rather than red.

Second, I also had an unshakeable feeling all night someone wanted me dead. Which only intensified as the night drew onwards. It was like somepony, or something was shadowing my every hoof-step. I did my best not to look like I was suspicious while at the same time staying firmly on my guard.

Cadence decided to try and arrive early. The carriage we'd arrived in was the embassy's to use, though our Police escort tonight was just four members of the LCPD flying in front and behind us rather than a constipated-looking detective on board with us. I was amused to learn the beat officers wore hats with flashing blue and red lights in them. We took turns keeping Running Gag's mouth shut. Why do we keep him? Because he's as effective on the enemy as on us!

The Hooviet Embassy was a contrast to ours. We had converted an existing building, but the Hooviets had pretty much carved out a chunk of Liberty City real estate and built a small fortress around the ornate mansion embassy. There was a massive gatehouse to pass through to drive up the road, and upon our carriage arriving at the embassy doors proper, a squad of Deer began to approach, marching in lockstep. They all wore pristine navy-blue uniforms adorned with golden epaulets. At their head, was a deer in a red uniform.

"I am Commissar Chekov. I welcome you to the Hooviet Embassy, Your Highness, Lady Ambassador." The Stag in Red said, extending one of his hooves.

No welcome for the grunts, of course. Just the Very Important Ponies.

"Thank you, Commissar," Cadence said, offering her own hoof, and looking both surprised and relieved for a second when he shook it rather than kiss it.

"Please, Your Highness, may you and your party follow me. May I say that you and the Lady Ambassador both look wery beautiful tonight, and compliment your guard on their wery well-groomed appearance?" He complimented.

Cadence thanked him, and we followed him up the stairs. The Hooviet flag was draped in the form of massive banners flanking the doors, and a line of Deer in forest-brown-and-green clothing stood either side of the red carpet inside, holding muskets in front of them via antler telekinesis. Though they cannot perform magic to the same extent as Unicorns, antlers allow for greater telekinetic stamina and lifting strength due to Deer, (and other such antlered ungulates) usually being born with two of them.

We were taken down a long hall, decorated with many pictures. One even celebrated the Hooviet 'victory' over the Dragons, and even included a small glass case, containing a chunk of burnt wood. Its plaque claimed it had been taken from a Hooviet frigate that had suicide-rammed a large dragon it had fought. The entire crew had been honored as posthumous Heroes of the Empire. I personally suspected it was just a bit of plank someone had set fire to.

"That's weird," Thunderchild whispered.

"The 'artifacts'?" Private Audience responded.

"No it's just, my grandpa always told me deer magic was like Earth pony magic, not unicorns." Thunderchild said like he was trying to remember a dream.

Eventually, we reached the Ballroom of the Hooviet Embassy, brought in by double doors at the end of the red carpet we had followed. A number of other guests were present, and a few Hooviets in an array of uniform wandered around. A fat one was apparently their ambassador. It would seem the true guest of honor, the General-Admiral, planned to arrive and start the party at eight. A pair of ornate doors at the opposite end of the hall had another red carpet stretching from them, as well as two guards either side, so I assumed this would be where the Hooviet officer was going to arrive from. I remembered the likelihood someone may try to start a fight with me, a situation in which being a defense specialist would be handy if it occurred, barrier-users were harder to pass off as being the 'attacker' later in the photos.

"Well, it seems we've got a change to mingle a bit before the 'festivities' begin. Shall we mingle, Cadence?" Ambassador Greetings invited, taking the Princess off to speak with the Ambassador from Austneighlia.

"Apple, Gag, please keep an eye on the Ambassador and the Princess. And remember, be careful. Don't give them any ammo."

"Is there going to be shooting?" Bitter Apple asked, wide-eyed.

"I meant POLITICAL ammo. Watch what you say."

The two of them nodded and kept their distance, but made no effort to conceal their presence. After all, the Austneighlian guards were pretty obvious.

"Commander, I'm going to try and have a few words with some other officers in the room, if you don't mind?" Bond then asked. I had no objections. Besides, I thought at the time, he outranked me.

It was three days later before I remembered I commanded a whole section of the Royal Guard and could have technically pulled rank if I wanted to.

"Sir, what do we know about this Makarov fellow?" Thunderchild wondered a few minutes later.

More and more guests had began to arrive, so the hall was getting a little more crowded.

"He's a Hooviet. I'm afraid that's all I know, Sergeant..."

"A magnificent example of a Hooviet, sir," a voice behind us said.

I turned and saw a deer in an expensive suit. His accent sounded local, likely a Hooviet expatriate. Another deer was with him, looking strange with a long beard.

"Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Alexi Mason. I've worked with the General-Admiral in my business dealings. This is my business partner, Victor Reznov. I'm afraid he has a sore throat and cannot speak tonight, ah..." The look in his eyes begged for my name.

"Captain Shining Armor Sparkle, Commanding Officer of the Equestrian Royal Guard of Her Highness, Princess Mi Amore Cadenza Equestria. This is Sergeant Thunderchild and Private Captive Audience. May I ask what dealings you've had with the General-Admiral?" I replied, keeping as polite a tone as I could manage.

"Certainly, Captain! I export and import some of the worlds finest timber. My company is headquartered right here in Liberty City, but we have operations around the world. The General-Admiral has been a very good customer."

"Isn't it unusual for the Hooviets to import wood?" I inquired.

"Not at all. They recognize the quality of fine wood, and to preserve their own supplies, they often import. A handsome profit for myself, of course. Few others are quite as capable of getting the wood for such reasonable sums. So many charlatans in my business seek to defraud my motherland..."

"Ah, I see. It's clear you're a very skilled and honest businessbuck. What's the General-Admiral like?"

Was I laying it on thick a little? Perhaps, but remember, everypony was trying to make a good impression.

"You'll see for yourself. He's a wonderful being, Captain. Wonderful. Beautiful. Wise, strong, and mature for his young age. An inspiration to us all."

I had a number of questions, but at that point, a pair of double doors opened and a number of Hooviet troops in dress uniforms marched in. They formed lines either side of the carpet and then began to chant a vocal salute.

"Ulla! Ulla! Ulla!"

I'm not a hundred percent sure on that, by the way. It may have been Ura. All I really know is, it's loud, it's aggressive, and it's quite intimidating. Like... what was that song Thunderchild used to listen to? Oh right, One-Winged-Alicorn. As a shape neared the double-doors the Hooviet choir drew out their salute.

"Ullllllllaaaaaaa!"

And in he entered. Supreme Marshal of the Imperial Armed Forces, General-Admiral Solomon Azure Raven Makarov.

It was strange. Every eye in the room was on him, but it felt like even if he'd just walked in without such an entrance it would have happened anyway. He had a strange aura to him, and the first thing I thought when I saw him was to be amazed at his youth. He was barely older than me.

He walked forward, not like he owned the place but like he owned the planet. Confident he was the strongest being in the room, despite the presence of an Alicorn and a small legion of his own soldiers. He seemed like a mortal ascended to Godhood, or that was how he carried himself. He wore a white uniform, rows of medals that seemed to have more gold than all the armor my troopers wore combined, and held a firm but confident smile. He practically glowed.

It was telling the last thing I noticed about him was that he was half-Deer, half-Unicorn. His cutie-mark was the gold skull of an ape with a rose in its teeth with the steam circling around the skull in a ring of thorns, with a bat wing and dove wing going opposite ways behind the skull, with the skull crying a single tear of blood with crossed swords behind the whole mess.

(Interviewer's Notes (Pegasus): What is that even supposed to symbolize?!

I have no bloody idea!!!

His uniform was a completely custom job, unlike anything else in the room.

He marched in as his choir sang the Hooviet Anthem, ceasing their chanted salute. Behind him, came a number of others in vaguely similar uniforms, but far less impressive.

Almost unseen, at his right side, was a strange being all in black. I only saw that being once that night, and never identified his species from the quick glance. All I did see was he appeared to be bald, and not a deer.

The crowd of guests parted before him, some of them even bowing. I felt myself fighting an urge to bow as well, as if he had some spell on him that made others wish to just bask in his magnificence. I only didn't because I heard a voice from beside me, a voice like sandpaper and tinged with a Hooviet accent. It was quiet but I heard it even over the singing of the Hooviet choir.

"What many Ponies and even Deer forget is that the first tribe the Hooviets enslaved was their own."

I glanced around for a second, wondering who it had been, but only Alexi and Victor were there, other than my own Troopers. I looked back at Makarov, who by now was amongst his guests. The singing soon ended, and there was applause. Cadence was clapping, she looked at her own hooves confused and surprised.

"I am Supreme Marshal of the Imperial Armed Forces, General-Admiral Solomon Azure Raven Makarov. I welcome you all to our humble embassy, as friends and hopeful friends of the Hooviet Empire. It is of benefit to The Greater Good that we are at peace with each other, and I hope that tonight's little get-together will help us on our way. I see many faces here tonight that I know and many I would like to know better..."

He moved amongst the guests, a faint but excited set of whispers in the air. I glanced back at the two deer nearby, and both seemed to smile convincingly. I dismissed either of them being the source of the voice. At the time, I dismissed it as imagination.

Makarov gave warm greetings to a number of Ambassadors, diplomats, and the like. Eventually, he reached Cadence.

"And of course, a most honored guest! You look delicious, positively in good taste! Princess Mi Amore Cadenza Equestria, one of only three of the noble God-Alicorns of the Ponies. Welcome, Your Highness!"

Confusion and surprise greeted his remark. Cadence looked alarmed for a second, but recovered, even as he had taken her extended hoof and kissed it.

"Thank you, Supreme Marshal, but I'm afraid that, er, there are only two Alicorns..."

He chuckled.

"Ah, but my dear Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, has not your lost Aunt Luna returned to us this very morning? Has your other Aunt kept the surprise from you as well?"

Cadence performed admirably, but Makarov still won this little bout.

"I'm afraid I'm uncertain of what you speak of, but I could try to ask for clarification of the matter if you wish?"

He just nodded, and moved on. The party then began, a band that thankfully wasn't a choir now playing some string music. I made my way towards Cadence.

"Are you okay, Cadence?" I asked. She looked mortified and despondent.

"What? Oh, I... I'm Fine, Shining... How did he know?"

"I've no idea, Your Highness," Ambassador Greetings confessed.

"There may be a leak somewhere. Possibly a Hooviet agent in Canterlot," Bond said, appearing from seemingly nowhere.

"I agree. Private Gag, I want you to take Commander Bond's message to... The embassy? No, to Commander Shepard. Take it straight to her, she'll get it to the right ponies."

"Follow me, I'll need to find some paper..."

"Yes sir," Gag nodded to me, and went off with Bond.

"Sir, Makarov is heading back this way," Apple warned us discreetly.

Cadence tried to improve her expression and smile in greeting, but she knew this was going to cause problems.

"Ah, Princess. I apologize if I spoiled a surprise back there, but I thought that you would have sought to formally announce the happy news this evening. After all, the most important nations of the world are represented here. I would ask you to introduce me to your soldier, but I am well aware of Captain Sparkle. His reputation precedes him. As assuredly as my reputation precedes me, eh, Captain?"

He grinned and winked at me, apparently fully confident that I had memorized every footnote of his personal dossier years in advance.

"I must ask, Captain Sparkle, which one of my personal accomplishments strikes you as most impressive? One of my political exploits? Or my military ones? And why?"

All I could think of was: What reputation preceded me?

"Er, I'm sorry, Supreme Marshal Makarov, sir. My knowledge of Hooviet culture and history is passable, at best, but I don't actually know much about you. I've only been recently promoted..." I said without thinking.

He reacted right away, eyes narrowing.

"You don't know much about me?"

He looked like I'd slapped his mother's muzzle.

"I find this highly unusual, Captain. Extremely difficult to believe. I am second only to Father Deer in my importance to the Hooviet Empire."

"I can only apologize, Sir, but I may not have been cleared for such important details before now..." Try to recover the hoofball, fumble.

"Do not call me 'sir', wretch! I will have you know I graduated top of my class for the Spetznaz! I am the youngest-ever Supreme Marshal of the Empire, and I am the first and only half-Deer to reach any position of authority in the Empire! I have bested dragons in personal one-on-one combat! I have access to the full might of the Hooviet arsenal!"

Cadence almost jumped at his tone.

"You 'don't actually know much about' Supreme Marshal of the Imperial Armed Forces, General-Admiral Solomon Azure Raven Makarov?" He said in a tone reserved for the crushing of the impudent. "You dare lie to my face. Is this some childish retort to my little jape? I find it in poor taste, Captain. And what I find in poor taste, I do not deign to consume!"

He spat out on the floor, as though to demonstrate, and turned to leave. I blinked, and so did Cadence.

"...What in Tartarus was all that about?" Cadence eventually whispered.

"I'd tell you 'I don't know,' but I think that's the problem," I managed to reply.