• Published 23rd Jun 2017
  • 8,247 Views, 4,585 Comments

The Olden World - Czar_Yoshi



Equestrian culture loves cutie marks. Filly Starlight Glimmer hates them and never wants one. So, she leaves Equestria.

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First Impressions Matter

"Kero!?" Maple exclaimed in shock, eyes fixed on the smiling, bottle-green griffon rendered in full color, his humbly smug expression enhanced by a tiny bow tie as he shook the hoof of a powerful stallion. Or... paw, she realized, slowly noticing the pony's catlike features. "Huh," she added, heartrate going slightly back down. "So that's a sphinx. But what's Kero doing all the way in the Griffon Empire?"

"A question for the ages," Gerardo agreed, holding up the paper for all to see. "I have an idea based on what that news vendor was shouting, but I would advise reading the article to find out."

Shinespark leaned closer, beginning to narrate. "Four decades of peace ended: Yakyakistan invades city-state of Ironridge! The fate of the trading world was upended today as a report reached senior Stormhoof officials that the western nation of Yakyakistan, long holding to isolationist and non-interventionist policies following the conclusion of last generation's brutal civil war that rocked the western world, has finally had a sharp reversal of stance. A griffon identified as Kero, native to the Empire's Izvaldi deme... demesne..." Shinespark tripped over her tongue. "How do you even pronounce this?"

"Ah, this?" Gerardo tapped the word in question. "Similar to domain, if I'm not mistaken. A demesne typically refers to the land holdings of a noble house or manor, which in this case would be the Izvaldi family. Most folk refer to the areas of the Griffon Empire as provinces, but it is a fancy word for those who wish to appear particularly cultured or patriotic, as it emphasizes the influence of the ruling-"

"Right, right." Shinespark cut him off. "Native of Izvaldi. Kero arrived in Stormhoof late the previous evening, seeking an audience with officials and reporters..." Her eyes started to skim the page, forgoing reading the whole thing. "He had a personal escape airship hidden in the jungle a day's flight out from Ironridge. This line says he left immediately after the events on the dam, and... he makes no mention of leaving all his ponies behind. And this article treats him like a hero."

"Look how many side articles are mentioned in this box," Maple murmured, tapping part of the paper with a hoof. "Lord Stormhoof: 'We are assessing whether military response is feasible and in our best interests', Page Three. Passengers from recent Ironridge ship recount rising tensions in city, Page Eight. A complete analysis of Kero's conversation with Lord Stormhoof, Page Six. This must fill the entire paper..."

Shinespark grabbed the folded paper from Gerardo in her magic and set about taking it apart, passing individual pages to Maple, Slipstream, Gerardo and herself. "Here. We'll get through this faster if we split it up. Keep a sharp eye out for anything that could affect us, especially any details that could reflect badly on us or make us recognizable. Just to be safe, I think I'm going to have to avoid using my brand while we're here as much as possible."

"I can read too," Starlight pouted, not having a section of the paper to pour over.

"You can help me, kiddo," Maple hummed, pulling Starlight close. "Let's see... It looks like we've got the section about military response. I hope they don't try to attack Ironridge or Yakyakistan over this. It sounds like Kero left before he could get the full picture..."

"Assuming everything he said is true in the first place," Starlight muttered.

"Right." Maple squeezed her with a forelimb. "Well, let's read."

The number one question on everyone's minds right now will be: "What does this mean for us?" The city of Ironridge is halfway across the world, and while this natural barrier might seem like protection to some, it also limits the spread of information. Said Lord Stormhoof speaking to commanders of the Imperial Stormhoof Navy: "This information took weeks to reach us. In that time, the situation could have resolved itself peacefully, or escalated beyond our understanding. Perhaps Yakyakistan will be content with its new holding, but there could be an armada at our doorstep as we speak. We must remain on guard, diligent, and ready to defend our Empire from any eventuality." Asked if he thought the threat of an invasion was paramount, Lord Stormhoof added, "No. Our Empire's defenses may be fortified upon the water, but our Goddess controls the weather and sky. She will protect us in the event of any flying invasion."

Lord Stormhoof went on to discuss best, worst and most likely case scenarios. "The best possible outcome is that this is a hoax," he insisted. "A possibility we should all keep in mind. Yakyakistan's church may not bow to our great Goddess, but they make values such as kindness and generosity central to society there, and a full, nationally-supported reversion to their expansionism of past generations may seem like a far shot. Until the situation in Ironridge can be verified, this is why I believe focusing our reaction on preparation and defense rather than a hasty counter-assault is wisest. However, Kero is not an unknown in his home province of Izvaldi, and diplomats have assured me his reputation is sound. Additionally, a ship that arrived recently from Ironridge held several passengers who testified extensively as to rising tension in the city, and two who spoke of bombing threats similar to the destructive incident Kero described. As such, it is extremely unsafe to brush these events off as false and unlikely."

When pressed for the worst case, Lord Stormhoof then had this to say: "The worst that could happen is that Yakyakistan's true target is our Empire, and the assault on Ironridge was to capture it and create a staging and refueling area for an advancing armada. But this, I hold to be equally unlikely. Kero's report described the situation as closer to a precursor for civil war, in which multiple factions within the city clashed and one had the backing of Yakyakistan. To my ears, it sounds more like a revolution than an invasion, similar to what Yakyakistan itself went through forty years ago. That said, from Kero's report it is certain Yakyakistan was involved as an antagonizing factor."

"What about the possibility Yakyakistan wasn't unified on this assault?" a reporter asked.

Said Lord Stormhoof: "I think that's very likely. My foreign policy cabinet is in agreement that this seems an unbelievable turn by the nation as a whole, but it is unsurprising that there would be those who harbor resentment over the loss of Yakyakistan's empire, much as there would be citizens here left in disbelief were the Goddess Garsheeva's empire to collapse into madness and war."

It should be noted, he added, that this was the primary difference between Yakyakistan's empire and Garsheeva's, and why ours endures to this day: the yaks based theirs around a system of beliefs, whereas Garsheeva is a physical goddess who can be seen and worshipped by all. Additionally, the yaks pressed their empire into a period of expansion and growth, while the size of the size of the Griffon Empire has remained constant and unchanged. When asked if this meant a reversal on his usual stance on sarosians, Lord Stormhoof replied, "It means I am content with the current system. The sarosians have their own land and I have mine, and while they are on it I won't stop anyone from treating them one way or another."

The possibility that Yakyakistan was not unified behind an assault and Ironridge was instead destabilized by a rogue element is, in fact, the biggest argument for an advanced military incursion to the west, Lord Stormhoof went on to say. "Yakyakistan's policy is against interventionism and expansionism, no matter what. In the event they as a nation refused to break it even with fighting escalating in Ironridge, the city could find itself facing a true crisis should fighting continue unchecked or a malevolent party prevail. We, however, are bound only by the wisdom of Garsheeva and the collective cooperation of the twelve houses. Were Garsheeva not to forbid it and the need to aid Ironridge sufficiently serious, House Stormhoof would be able to muster the resources to fly in a military contingent and restore order by force."

"How would we do that," he was pressed, "when the Empire's air fleet is years from completion and under exclusive control of the Imperial household?"

Lord Stormhoof replied that through right of royal requisition, and force if that was contested, the Stormhoof province plays host to chartered Varsidelian ships used to make the long trading journey between the Empire and Ironridge, and those could be assumed as property of the House. However, due to Varsidel's immense need for air power in their own war, the cost of chartering the ships has risen immensely in recent years, and such a blow to relations with Varsidel would perhaps put a permanent strain on relations with the war-torn nation and the Empire. How bad would that be, Lord Stormhoof was asked, and would it really be worth risking relations with one nation for those with another? And if House Stormhoof would fly to the aid of Ironridge in the midst of a war crisis, why not do the same for Varsidel?

"Varsidel is complicated," Lord Stormhoof said. "But we have an understanding of the sides in the conflict, and no particular desire to support either through our own military involvement. Additionally, the Council of Lords has ruled out a nationwide intervention, and my province alone doesn't have the resources to make an impact in the conflict. Ironridge, however, may well be a small-scale battle endangering a large number of civilians unaccustomed to wartime life. Furthermore, if Ironridge collapses, we won't have need of Varsidelian air since we can reach Varsidel already by sea. The final factor is that we've taken care as an empire to avoid deliberately placing our citizens in harm's way in Varsidel. However, Ironridge has an ambassador's office and over two dozen airships sent out for the city with Griffon Empire crews. An intervention in Ironridge would ultimately be in the name of protecting our own."

Obviously, he added, if such an effort were to be sent out and disappear without a trace, the worst would be presumed and the Empire would have to brace itself for invasion by a yak armada. Ultimately, the decision on whether to send a military aid force or remain defensive and prepared will come down do further analysis of the conflict and the will of Garsheeva, who is...

"Aha!" Gerardo loudly interrupted Maple's reading. "Brightcoil! I recognize this name. She and her marefriend, who requested to be unnamed, testified concerning bombs planted on one of the dams, corroborating Kero's story... I met them while we were separated on the second day. It is good to see they made it out of the city safely."

"Sharpie and Brightcoil?" Shinespark perked up. "Sharpie was the one you brought to my office at the Oasis, wasn't she? I remember trying to secure them airship tickets to leave the city shortly before we started the evacuation. They made it here safely, did they?"

"It sounds quite so," Gerardo mused. "A large portion of this column is speculation. Are any of you finding things more pertinent?"

Maple swallowed. "I think so," she said, hoofing back her article. "It sounds like they're trying to decide between fortifying the coastline and doing nothing, and confiscating a lot of Varsidelian ships to send troops to Ironridge in case the city is still in danger. But it made it sound like they're still trying to decide, and if they send them and they don't come back, that will both hurt relations with Varsidel and make them assume Yakyakistan ambushed the ships and is militarily invading..."

Shinespark frowned. "And this paper was printed this morning. If these ships go, they'd get stuck without power and not be able to make the journey back. That could be a problem..."

Slipstream held her breath. "So if we told the right ponies in time, we could potentially stop something bad from happening between the Empire and Varsidel?"

"It sounds as though even though the conflict ended weeks ago, reactions are still playing out as the news spreads," Gerardo announced, re-furling his section of the paper. "If you have no desire to become embroiled in drama, I can leave you fully out of this and seek the top officials myself, but making sure as many important griffons and ponies know the battle was resolved peacefully will be very important in limiting the fallout of this conflict. I, at least, feel the call to action."

"Too bad Valey had the sound stone when she disappeared," Shinespark sighed. "Putting this Lord Stormhoof in direct contact with Arambai in Ironridge would probably help things a lot. They could arrange proper equipment shipments to get the city back on the map, and..." She snorted, flicking her ears. "That rock boggles my mind. If someone could figure out how it worked, we could solve the entire world's problems with slow long-distance communication. I wish we could know where those two brothers got them..."

"How about you two?" Maple asked, raising an eyebrow at Shinespark and Slipstream. "Did you find anything useful?"

Slipstream shook her head. "I had the rest of the front page, but it looked mostly sensational. This newspaper is called the Stormhoof Bugler, and I don't know whether that makes it very official or very unofficial, but it was trying to drum up readership for sure."

"I found something," Shinespark said, holding out her part of the paper. "It's mostly something Valey would be interested in, though, but this is Kero discussing his role in Herman's plans. He talks about how he never knew Herman's true intentions until the very end, makes himself sound heroic... He also discusses sending his minions to fight Valey in the mines, says Herman ordered that, and with hindsight he figures it was Herman trying to take out a commander who might be too principled to go along with his plan. He actually doesn't mention her bad reputation at all, and makes her sound like a pretty good pony."

"Really?" Maple's ears perked in interest. "Well, I guess I know whether he harbors any resentment over what I did to his pegasi. Weird, though. I feel like we decided Herman wasn't the one who gave him that job..."

Shinespark shrugged. "He doesn't play up the fact that he was a mercenary. In fact, it sounds like he left without knowing what happened to Valey or his crew, or even how the battle ended. If he did, he made no mention of it. Sometimes dishonorable ponies will talk up a dead or defeated rival just to make themselves look better, since they know giving the rival a boost can't possibly hurt them now."

"...Well, that stinks." Maple swung a hoof at the ground. "I was hoping it would mean he's nice enough we could talk to his face and maybe ask about that mysterious package. He did want it delivered to the Empire, too..."

"I think it's best we don't do that either way," Gerardo announced. "If we run into him, we shall deal with it, though I think it would be best to trust him as little as possible. Remember, the entire sum of our wealth technically belongs to him, and we would be in quite a pickle if he requested it back. That said, I intend to do something about this news as quickly as possible and see to it that the Empire doesn't make any hasty decisions. Would any of you like to be with me?"

Slipstream glanced around and shrugged. "I signed up for adventure."

Shinespark immediately stepped to his side. "I'll have to. Having an actual Sosan executive there would boost your credibility considerably, and it shouldn't be impossible to prove who I am. Even if I have to use my brand to do it."

Maple frowned at the group. "I suppose I'll go with you, then. I wish Valey was here, but Starlight's going with me..." Starlight interrupted her with an emphatic nod. "...And she's the one Valey always says she can follow. Besides, I don't think we have any unknowns that could blow up in our faces, and if you leave us anywhere besides the ship, we'd get lost." She glanced at the cobbled white street, and added, "And I'm feeling bold today."

"And so the group sticks together!" Gerardo crowed, reassembling the paper and tucking it into his sash alongside the sheathed black sword. "We truly need a name for our little ensemble. Regardless, let us be off."

Shinespark raised an eyebrow. "You know your way around?"

"I know where the important types are likely to be!" Gerardo shrugged, smiling. "Up! Whatever way else? I have a feeling we only need to go until we find an important-looking guard, convince them we know about Ironridge, and have them take us wherever we need to be. They're probably familiar enough with important things to take us at our word, at least initially."

Slipstream craned her neck, looking back the way they had come. "Like those two who are still guarding the newsstand?" she asked. "They look like they're just sitting around, and seemed professional enough..."

"Ugh." Maple shivered, wrapping her forehooves around her chest and sitting. "Guards."

"I don't see the citizenry moving around them with anything other than comfort and normalcy," Gerardo remarked. "Implying they are civilized. But we shall be careful, just in case."

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