The Equestria Offensive by Midnight Flare, Hoodoo, theapocalipz
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The Equestria Offensive
Chapter 2
Grand Galloping Gala, March 6th, 10:10 P.M., 2013
“Twilight Sparkle, my most faithful student, and Midnight Flare,” Princess Celestia said by way of invitation, calling the two ponies to enter her private chambers. “I’ve been waiting for you two. Come in, we have important matters to discuss.” The Princess looked distracted to Midnight as she crossed the room and sat down. He and Twilight remained standing, not sure what to do.
“Why have you called us here, Princess? Is there some kind of emergency?”
“Not yet, but in all likelihood there could be very soon. Twilight, are you familiar with the Griffin country of Caeli?”
“Of course.” Twilight was quick to respond. “Caeli: the Griffin nation lying on Equestria’s western border, ruled as a monarchical state for twelve generations independently after its formal separation from the greater Kingdom of the Griffins. In that time it has defended itself successfully from numerous attacks by various opposing factions and held nearly all of its original territory. Equestria and Caeli have been under strained relations for several decades now, but peace has mainly held through mutual benefits of trade and treaties of security. The beginnings of the friction too place over one hundred years ag-” Celestia raised a hoof letting her know she had sufficiently answered the question. She chuckled at Twilight’s vast memory bank of textbook knowledge.
“I can see your reading has not slowed down since your move to Ponyville, Twilight. Well done. Yes, Equestria’s peace with Caeli has indeed been under some stress recently. It seems that King Gryphem is no longer listening to negotiations, and has become more interested in controlling more land and expanding the reach of his kingdom.”
“So Princess,” Midnight asked, “what exactly are you saying?”
“The land he has his sights set on happens to be within the borders of Equestria. I am saying there is a very present possibility of war with Caeli. Obviously he does not simply desire a few hundred miles of forest or plains, the areas he is after are important to Equestria’s continued prosperity, filled with innocent ponies who can not simply be told to move out of the way of the Griffins. It is for their sake that we will have to challenge any aggression coming from Caeli. It’s coming to the point where we will have no choice but to fight back.”
“Well, this all sounds very important Princess,” Midnight stated. “But why are you telling us? Of all ponies, why should we be the ones to know about this?”
Celestia turned to him. “I understand your confusion, Midnight. I wanted Twilight to know because if this conflagration comes to pass, I want her by my side. She is my most faithful student and she is far more important to me than she knows. And for you Midnight, I have seen you deal with conflict before, I’m sure you remember when Luna and I were forced against you, I know I do. Even with both of us against you, it was still a hard fought battle.”
“But Nightmare Moon was-”
“Yes, I know. She is gone from you and with her left some of the powers you wielded. Nevertheless, you would be a formidable opponent to any who would go against you. That alone might be enough to dissuade some members of the forces we could very well be facing in the months to come. Midnight, Equestria has many fine warriors, and all would give their lives to defend it... but with you... fighting alongside them, they may not have to. You can save them.”
“I, umm. I’m not sure if I...” He didn’t know what to say. Would Celestia take no for an answer? Did he even want to say no? Confusion aside, “yes” was certainly not the word on his tongue. Celestia could obviously see the indecision staying his response, and resumed her speech.
“I know this is a difficult decision Midnight, and I would not expect you to make it lightly. All I ask is that you consider it. Despite the severance of negotiations with Caeli, it does not seem that conflict is imminent just yet. However, they don’t seem to be backing down either. As we speak, Luna is in talks with the Court of King Gryphem urging him to reconsider his position. Luna is a skilled negotiator in these matters and I put my faith in her. Nevertheless, I would still like the both of you to remain in Canterlot until we know the result of her negotiations.”
Twilight, ever the faithful student of the Princess, was the first to respond. “Of course, Princess. And while we’re here, you can count on the both of us to help in any way possible to help with your efforts to keep the peace with Caeli. Right Midnight?”
“Huh? Oh, yes. Of course Princess, it’s just-”
Before Midnight could voice his concerns, a the far window burst open with a gust of wind and a diminutive griffin flew in through the opening. He carried what looked like a mail bag, hung around his neck. Without a word he reached inside and pulled out a letter. The large scroll was adorned with an official looking red ribbon fastening it closed. He held the letter out for the Princess to take. Only after she had taken it with her magic did he speak. “E sippih zuh auy, Bhormill Celestia, zhuc Gork Gryphem.”
“Is that Caelian? How are we supposed to-” His thought was interrupted by a quick response from the Princess.
“Pnemg auy, auyrk Avi.” Celestia answered him in practiced Caelian, which took Midnight off guard. The messenger nodded and walked over to the window, but stayed inside. He looked as if he was waiting on something.
“Princess, I never knew you spoke Caelian.” Twilight said, looking genuinely surprised.
“Of course, Twilight. I’ve never had reason to with you. Both Luna and I learned the language to ease communications between Equestria and Caeli for both sides. It is also harder to ignore us when we can speak to King Gryphem or his officials directly, rather than through messages or even other ponies going in our place.”
The Princess impressed Midnight. He always knew Celestia was a wise ruler, but he had never really known any details of how she did it. Seeing her at work was something he wouldn’t soon forget. “That’s amazing, maybe one of you could teach me the language. I wonder if Gilda knew it.”
Celestia used her magic to open the letter and began reading:
Bhormill Celestia,
Jnosi auyh lolpih, Luna, cea byp yb kuut ehkycirpl, O juyst bhizih auy dupn di nihi lu O meh kip dupn uz auyh uborourl. O jess rup mnerki ca cort yrsill auy timoti pu lnuj auyh zemi nihi or Caeli, ert muci pesg pu ci uri ur uri.
Gork Gryphem
“I’m sorry you two, I must leave for Caeli right away. Please, enjoy the Gala. And Midnight, consider what I said.”
“I’ll keep it in mind, Princess.”
Celestia turned to let the griffin know he could leave, and with a bow, he left back the way he came. “I will see both of you again soon.” An intense glow came from her horn, wrapping its self around her until she teleported out of the room with a flash.
Midnight and Twilight entered the hall and started back to the main hall which contained the Gala. Soon they started to hear the noises of the party echoing through the passageways of the castle, growing steadily more present in their ears. Twilight couldn’t help but notice a distinct change in the sound of the party, far from last year’s classical motif, she could now hear a steady thumping rhythm coming from the Hall. A deep bass permeated the beat and soon she began to see flashing multicolored lights bounding out of the space of the party. Midnight had been walking alongside her all the way from Celestia’s chambers, but he hadn’t said a word since they left. “Okay, the Princess had a lot to say. I hope nothing comes of this situation with Caeli. But for now, I think we should enjoy the party, right?” Her statement was accompanied by a half genuine smile.
“Yeah... sure...”
“You’re still thinking about what the Princess asked you, I take it?”
“I don’t know what I should do, Twilight. The thought hasn’t left my head this whole time.”
Twilight thought for a moment. “Celestia has given you time to think about it. Maybe Rainbow Dash can help? I’m sure she’ll have something to say, and that might help you make a decision.”
“I’ll see if I can find her later. For now you’re right, let’s see what’s going on with this party.”
Coming onto the main floor of the Gala, it was nothing like Midnight had imagined ever seeing in what was normally such a tranquil and serene palace. There were vibrant blue banners hung from the ceiling, the tips of which were all that was visible. The moonlight which would usually have entered through the multistory windows was blocked out, and illumination was instead provided by the bright stage lighting coming from the far side of the room. A far cry from the stifling boredom Twilight and the others had described.
As he observed, Pinkie Pie bounded out of the crowd and nearly crashed into him and Twilight. How she scoped them out so quickly was beyond him. “Hi Pinkie Pie, I see your plan worked, whatever it was. This place is nothing like what I heard about the last time you were here.”
“Yeah, I knew it would work! You can always count on Pinkie Pie to bring the PAR-TAY!”
Twilight was restrained by Pinkie for a moment as she grabbed her and bounced excitedly. “Pinkie Pie, what exactly was your ‘master plan’ anyway?”
“Oh, right. I didn’t want to tell anypony before because it would have spoiled the surprise. All I did was use a little of my magic of persuasion to get Vinyl Scratch to work some of her own magic on all these boring party ponies! Pfft, if you could even call them that. I had to do something after last time!”
“I didn’t know you were friends with Vinyl, Pinkie.”
“Oh, I’m not. I’ve never met her before tonight.” Pinkie answered with a smile.
“Then how did you know where to-” At that moment she was smacked in the nose by the unfurling of Pinkie Pie’s party horn and she bounced off back towards the stage.
“Okay... I’m going to find Applejack. See you later Midnight, I hope you have a good time.” Twilight trotted off back out of the room, probably back towards the entrance where Applejack had already set up. Midnight however, was looking for somepony else. An old acquaintance. Making his way up towards the stage, he could see her. The center of tonight’s attention, or at least the pony behind it. She was on stage, scratching away at her records, flipping the cross-fader expertly back and forth, and generally doing everything she could to keep the party going for everypony there. It was really something to watch her work. Music was her life and she lived it every day. Her head bobbed to the beat and the smile on her face communicated her love of the crowd. At this point in the set, the music was blasting through Midnight’s ears as he approached her from the side of the stage.
‘Hey, Vinyl!” She couldn’t hear him obviously, but he still tried waving a hoof to get her attention. “Vinyl?! Hello?!” No luck, she was so deep in the performance it was clear she wasn’t even aware he was standing next to her. “I probably should just catch you after! I’ll just let you get back to playing then!” He turned to leave and began to step off the stage when Vinyl turned and spotted him. It looked like she recognized him by the friendly wave.
“Hey, Midnight! Come on back!” She used her magic to flip a new record onto the table and let it play. “Sorry dude. I didn’t notice you standin there.”
“That’s alright, you looked like you were pretty concentrated up there, I didn’t want to interrupt.”
“Nah, it’s all good, dude.” She pushed up her trademark violet lensed sunglasses and set them up on her horn. He’d met her a few times before at various parties she’d DJed, but he never really got used to those scarlet eyes. She looked him over quickly and nodded before she spoke again. “Well, you’re looking good. Nice suit ya got on. Are you here with Rainbow Dash, or did you guys...”
“No, we’re definitely still together, these past few years have been great with her.”
“Good to hear. But you’ve been together that long? Did you ever think about marryin her?” she asked lightly as she leaned back onto her rolling chair.
“Well of co-...wait, I. Hmm...” That had never really even come up between them. Here Vinyl was, making him wonder why he’d never thought about it before. She was right, but it only took him a few seconds to remember why. Rainbow Dash wasn’t the kind of pony to care about romantic formalities. In his mind and hers, as long as they were together, it didn’t really matter.
“I’m gonna take that as a no.”
“Yeah, I guess we’ve never really thought about it. Dash has been busy performing with The Wonderbolts recently.”
“So she’s gotten that down, has she? That’s good for her. Well, I guess that’ll come up when it comes up.”
“Yeah, I’m sure it will. So, what did you do to get all of these uptight ponies to actually have fun here for a change?”
“Well that’s simple. Imagine in your mind how this place would normally be, kinda like a posh country club; the stuffy old money where the poor get snubbed. The spread was bland like watered down chartreuse. There was no way these ponies would ever cut loose. So that’s why Pinkie hired me to play here. First, I walk in this room and held my boombox high. And what happened next, will blow your mind. Everything got outta control. The music was so entrancing. Everypony got out on the floor. It was a bunch of old ponies dancing.”
“Wow, can’t believe that actually worked. Well, from what I heard about The Gala before.”
“Yeah, I know, dude. I’ve heard this place totally bites most years. I’m surprised I’m even DJin’ a place like this. Then again, I guess it’s not really my choice, it’s the studios.”
“Wait, I thought Pinkie said she hired you.”
“In a way, she did. She came and talked to me first. No idea how she knew where to find me tonight, but I told her that it wasn’t up to me so she had to go talk to the studio and they took care of the rest pretty fast once I told them it was at the Palace.”
“Oh, well that’s new to me. I always thought it was your decision.”
“Well, I guess yah learn somethin new everyday. Am I right? Aw man, this song is almost over, so I gotta get back to DJing. I think you should go find some of your friends, and enjoy The Gala. This place is actually a party for once.”
“Alright, you enjoy yourself then, Vinyl.”
“Okay, see yah later, dude.” She hopped out of her chair and pushed it away from the table. Dropping her sunglasses back down onto her face, she picked up her DJing where she left off. “I hope everypony out here is enjoying their night tonight. I know I am. Remember, there will be an opportunity to win some of these sick prizes behind me sponsored by Equestria Radio, and partially funded by AJ’s Apple Accessories. For all the ponies rockin it here, stop down in the palace courtyard to try a everything she’s got! We’re coming live from The Grand Galloping Gala. I’m your host, DJ PON-3. That last song was Atlas Mare by Flaxen Attack. And here’s one of my favorites, Big Boss by Pony P. Hope you enjoy it.”
By the time Midnight made it off the stage, the next song was already blaring from the speakers, which were taller than he was. Time to find Dash. “She’s probably in the V.I.P. section with the Wonderbolts, I’ll just start there.”
Outside the Gala hall, main hall of the Gala, Twilight had met up with Applejack. From the look of things when she first arrived, business was booming at the apple stand.
“After the way things went last time, ah never expected sales to be anywhere near this good. With these kind of bits comin’ in I’m sure we’ll have more than enough to fix up everything on the farm. We might have even more after that!” She gestured to a large unorganized pile of coins behind the stand. She’d been too occupied by droves of customers to even keep them in order.
“Wow AJ, this is amazing! I think everypony in the Gala has heard about your apples, what exactly did you do to get this much attention?” Twilight asked in amazement.
“Well, when Pinkie got Scratch to do her music, I asked if she could mention my stand out here in exchange fer a small piece of mah profit. She said sure, and I guess it got the job done!”
Ponies were arriving from all over the Palace to get a taste of what they heard inside was “the best food on the party grounds.”
“Excuse me, ladies.” a tan coated colt announced. He was dressed quite tastefully for the Gala, just like everypony else, with a simple black tuxedo. “I’d like to get two apple fritters, for my fillyfriend and I.”
“Sure thing!” Applejack replied eagerly, “That’ll be 2 bits.” The colt happily handed the bits to Applejack. She tossed them casually onto the growing pile behind her and gave him the fritters in exchange. “Thank yah kindly, sir.” He nodded to her and trotted off, back to his date, an equally well dressed filly, just a shade lighter than him. Splitting the fritters, they trotted off, holding each other’s gazes.
“Oh Lincoln, I just love those golden eyes of yours.” she remarked as they made their way back towards the palace.
Twilight’s head sunk just a little at their clear enjoyment of each other’s company. She’d always wondered what it would be like, even read books on the subject, but never really thought about a serious relationship for herself. Now it felt like she was missing out on something, they certainly did look happy, after all.
“What’s the matter, sugarcube?”
“It’s nothing, AJ. Let’s... organize the income or something.”
“Oh come on now, you can tell me.”
“Well... I never really thought about it before, but... I don’t have anypony, Applejack.”
“What d’ya mean? You’ve got us, and Midnight, and Spi-”
“No, I mean anypony like that.” She gestured at their most recent customers. “I just feel a little... lonely. Midnight has Rainbow Dash, and most ponies here aren’t by themselves or just with friends. AndIguesssomeponiesarecomfortablewiththatbut-” Applejack cut her off before she got talking too fast.
“Twi, I’m sure you’ll find somepony that’ll make ya happy. Shoot, I’ll bet ya won’t even have to look too hard. A nice pony like you, ah’d be surprised if ya couldn’t find a colt interested right here in Canterlot. Fer now, let’s get yer mind off it and sell the rest of these apples.”
“Thanks, Applejack. I hope you’re right.” The two went back to tending the apple stand and Twilight’s worries began to lessen. The sales and helping the Apple family seemed to serve as a decent distraction to her own problems, but it still bothered her. “I know Applejack is my friend and she’ll do whatever she can to help me, but what if she’s wrong about me? I hope she knows what she’s talking about. I hope this works."