Grand Galloping Gala Part 2
- - -
Well, we weren't going to sort anything out just arguing out where everyone else could watch (and gossip). So for the sake of my charges (and our sanity), I herded the unruly mares into my house and shut the door. I managed to get them into my living room, where Pinkie Pie immediately ducked down, and reappeared with a platter of snacks. I rolled my eyes at her antics, as it didn't slow down the arguing.
"I can't believe it! She's trying to steal our bodyguard!" Dash growled. She immediately grabbed onto my arm. "WE SAW YOU FIRST!" She snarled.
"Dash, come on, we haven't even gone on our date yet," I sighed.
"We can just skip to the end~," she crooned in an attempt at a sultry tone. Applejack yanked on the rope she'd kept around the pegasus, yanking her off me. I sighed in relief, and smiled at Applejack.
"Much appreciated," I said. Applejack curled up to my side with a smug expression.
"Not to worry," she said easily. Dash glared angrily.
"Hypocrite!" She snarled. Applejack rolled her eyes.
"Brat," she shot back.
Fluttershy sighed softly, Pinkie Pie slid up to her side and patted her shoulder.
"Don't worry Fluttershy!" Pinkie said consolingly. "I'm not getting a 'red hot orgy' twitch, or a 'killer cat fight' twitch, so something else will happen!"
"I don't know if you're trolling me or them," I grumbled. Pinkie gave me a cheeky smile back, and batted her eyelashes.
"Or I might be doing something else~," she crooned. I looked over at Twilight, who was examining the letter with laser focused intensity. I frowned.
"Uh, Twilight? You okay there?" I asked.
Rarity looked up from the pastries and frowned.
"Twilight darling?"
The purple unicorn beamed, and threw a hoof up into the air.
"I'VE GOT IT!"
"What?!" Dash demanded. "Why the Princess is stealing Shepherd?!"
"She's not stealing me!" I growled. I looked over at Twilight carefully. "... Right Twilight?"
The librarian shook her head, chuckling happily.
"Of course not! It's very simple! And also... Very potentially dangerous."
"How dangerous?" Dash asked, already looking intrigued. Her tail brushed over my lap, and I scowled at her. She looked innocent.
"Sorry~," Dash murmured. Applejack slapped her tail away with a scowl, making the prismatic pegasus scowl. Twilight ignored all of this, beaming in triumph.
"Well, let's examine the facts, shall we? Why would Celestia want a visible escort with her during the Gala?" She asked, looking around at her friends. Pinkie Pie held up her hoof and waved it around eagerly.
"Ooh! Ooh! Ooh! Me! Me! Me! PICK ME! MEEEEE!"
Twilight sighed, and pointed at the pinkie party pony.
"Pinkie?"
Pinkie beamed like the sun.
"Because she wants to feel more secure?" Pinkie offered. Twilight hummed thoughtfully.
"That's part of it, yes! But why?" Twilight prompted.
"Pirate invasion?" Pinkie suggested.
"Eldritch abominations?" I deadpanned. It honestly wouldn't surprise me.
"You're... Well you might be right," Twilight considered, before shaking her head. "The point is! She clearly suspects some kind of threat! The Grand Galloping Gala is the biggest assemblage of Pony leaders of the year! Some kind of attack could cripple Equestria's ability to respond to an invasion!"
Everyone's eyes widened. Even Dash stopped her obvious flirting, her jaw dropped. Applejack frowned in serious thought.
"So, why didn't Princess Celestia jest say that?" Applejack asked.
Rarity clopped her hooves together.
"Obviously, because she can't!" Rarity deduced. "The potential threat may already be in Canterlot! Hidden! Disguised, perhaps! There could be double agents among the populace, and she doesn't know who to trust!"
A chill ran down my spine. The earlier exasperation was replaced by uncertainty. Was there a new threat to Equestria so soon? Then again, given the damage done by Nightmare Thicket's crap, it would be an ideal time for someone to attack. Strike while we're weak.
"Well... Why Shepherd?" Dash asked. before I could. "Why not a whole legion of guards?"
Twilight nodded firmly, her eyes narrowed.
"Oh! That's also simple Rainbow Dash! She wants us to be in attendance with Shepherd to take the threat down! And us plus Shepherd equals an unpredictable means of stopping it!" She beamed at us all. "Which we will."
I will admit, seeing that smile on Twilight Sparkle's face relieved my fears and lightened my spirits. It was the same smile she'd worn when she'd figured out the Elements of Harmony. Casting the Nightmare into the Aether.
"I'm actually kind of relieved," I admitted. I grimaced. "Is that weird?"
"Kind of?" Dash admitted.
"Maybe a little," Fluttershy suggested.
"I mean, I like Celestia, but I am nowhere near good enough to... Ya know... Actually date her," I said.
"Hey now! She'd be lucky to have a stallion like you!" Pinkie Pie said cheerfully. She winked. "Maybe we can work something out after we save the kingdom again!"
"Not the time, Pinkie!" Twilight growled. "We need to make more preparations!" She looked to Rarity, who sighed and rubbed her chin.
"Oh dear. More revisions to the dresses," she hummed. She brightened. "Oh well! Giant Spider silk armor plating can at least be blended into most of them at this stage!"
I shook my head and stood up, dislodging Rainbow Dash.
"That's not going to be enough," I stated. "If we're going to actually handle this covertly, we need to be smart. We need to be coordinated!"
I looked around at the six best hopes for the entire world. All looking determined.
"Above all else? We need to train. Hard," I stated.
"What did you have in mind, Shepherd?" Twilight asked, intrigued. I shrugged.
"Well, for starters," I said, "let's try my combat training regimen. That way, we can all be on the same page, and get in shape!"
"But what if whatever Princess Celestia is... Is worried about is already here in Ponyville?" Fluttershy whispered, looking around carefully. The rest of the mares began looking around, suspicion hitting them all. Like how everyone in a group starts yawning once one person does.
I let out a long sigh.
"We can just say you all decided to strengthen your friendship with group exercise," I said.
Dash frowned.
"What kind of training is this, anyway?" She asked.
I saw Chewie's face pop up outside a nearby window. He growled hopefully. I allowed myself a deadly little smile.
"Well..."
- - -
Five minutes later, we were all running or galloping from Chewie, who was roaring behind us gleefully. The big guy was so happy, it was kind of hard to feel my usual level of pants shitting terror.
"THIS IS WHAT YOU DO EVERY DAY?!" Rarity shrieked.
"YOU CAN'T ARGUE WITH THE RESULTS!" I shouted back with a bright grin. Everyone else kept screaming, but I let my primal human instincts sing in my burning blood.
Maybe Equestria was in danger again. Maybe it was just some kind of prank by Celestia.
I guess we'd find out.
- - -
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This does bring a smile to my face.
My kitten loves play hunting too. And I bet Chewy pounces her first.
Y'know? I think Celestia just wanted a date with her knight while open season was still in effect. But there could still turn out to be some horrible threat anyway...
A new adventure !!
Chewy is best manticore.
No one ever expects chewy!
Chewie is having the best day right now.
Get Chewie Rated as a Service Animal, If any body asks what kind of Service animal, you just wink and say "Secret Service."
I love it Chewie is definitely living his best love right now
Celestia has added to her standard response of "throw the mane six at a problem" by adding Shepard.
Her problem here being boredom.
Somewhere Discord is laughing.
10533951
Yes. I will be sad if this isn't in here when the time comes. Also with a bow tie and little collar. Maybe some sunglasses as well.
Why am I not surprised that Rarity already has plans for clothing that is a good as kevlar.
My guess is that Celestia intended it as a joke but they do end up discovering some sort of secret attack, possibly a early Changeling invasion.
I demand an AJ Shep chapter next. Working out in the barn hitting the punching bag being misconstrued as rough Amore.
“Applejack Marie Apple! What in tarnation are ya...doing....”
“10 more reps sug’, what is it Granny?”
“Oh...never mind hun.”
“Great, now tap that ass.”
“What?!”
“The punching dummy we got is a Jack Ass brand.”
“Right...of course it is.”
“Damn AJ, I’m walking funny tomorrow.”
Yeah, this definitely smacks of Twilight reading too much into the situation. I suppose we'll find out for sure in time.
This made me smile. <3
10534295
Bruh. Spider silk while INCREDIBLY expensive, is way tougher. ANd if decent kevlar can stop a knife, imagine what GIANT SPIDER silk plate armor can stop.
😆
10536792
I didn't say it wasn't cool, I said it wasn't practical. Does it make sense to spend who knows how many bits altering this one of a kind treasure trove of potential research to work in the sky so what, they can lob 8 inch shells at targets a few nautical miles away? What if they lose it? What if it gets captured? Alternatively they can spend NOTHING and have a force of Pegasi convert a cloudbank into a covert airbase anywhere. Which makes it better at deploying pegasi, and if the enemy takes it, so what? They literally stole water vapor from you.
The British navy had a plan to make artificial icebergs out of sawdust and ice to deploy aircraft quickly.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Habakkuk
They cancelled it because the US was building aircraft carriers (CVEs) so fast they made doing that less practical than just making them wholesale. This is the same thing in reverse. Military budgeting tends to drive towards efficiency in wartime. Waste creeps in during peacetime.
10537317
Cloud based only work for Pegasus though unless they want to tie down dozens of unicorns to keep recasting cloud walking spells. Plus a bad storm and your base it literally blown away.
A converted Yorktown though can work for any species and carry a hell of a lot more bombs, supplies, and small airships. Along with repair and medical facilities. To say nothing of its sheer shock value.
Cloud base? Expected and probably factored into the other sides plans. A massive flying armor plated bastion spewing flying horses carrying 250 pound bombs and throwing 5" shells that punch right through wood hulls? Nope not something the other side probably planned on.
Pobre bastardo, algo me dice que morirá en el próximo capítulo.
Yep. A deadly sparing partner sure get you going
Chewie got new play mates
Rainbowdash is sooo hard after his Money D
Huh. A random thought hit me, and I want to get it out before I lose it: Has Shepherd connected the dots that Shining is Two's brother?
I don't think he has in this continuity...
The wedding's gonna be fun!
Is the Manticore the Pet or is Shepard the play-Prey.
Anyway they are best buddys
Now run!
They are not mutually exclusive...
To bad it never got resolved...