Diplomacy in The East
Far in the East, past the Saddle Arabian deserts, over twisting rivers and though deep valleys exists a smattering of isolated but unified kingdoms. They for a thousand years past the great Nightmare have turned insular, hidden beneath their great mountains of stone in cave networks vast enough to house the entire population of Canterlot many times over. Few to emerge from this self isolation, mostly as adventurers, explorers and information gathers sent to keep an eye on the happenings of the outside world.
Then, four years ago news came to the kingdoms of the return and purification of the Nightmare. It was a joyous moment for the people under the mountains, for the Lady of the Night has returned.
But, for want of nothing more than to greet their Lady; they as a people came to a crossroads. A choice, for the people have been prospering in their Isolation and for as much as it would be a joyous meeting between the Clan Council, the people and their Lady, to do so would mean giving up their Isolation and opening their Kingdoms to the greater outside world and it dangers.
This choice locked the people and their leaders in a debate for two years, it seemed as if no consensus would come to this debate. But on the day of one meeting over this debate a solution came in the form of a missive from their Lady, a solution to the stalemated debate in the form of proposed diplomatic Envoy and the establishment of a Embassy in the capital city of Starhold.
To the leaders of the People under the mountains, this was a blessing! They could keep their Isolation and have contact with their returned Lady and her Kingdom. Thus a missive was sent back with gratus acceptance of the proposal in the care of a Long Flyer to Canterlot.
For the People Under The Mountains, the Unified Everglow Kingdoms, The Thestrals of the Caves have once again entered the vast world for the first time since their Vaunted Lady became the Nightmare and was Banished one thousand years ago. It was said that they could hear their ladies Joyus shouts all the way from Canterlot when the Missive reached her.
It would be four moons later that the Diplomat would arrive, in that time the Thestrals had work to build an Embassy in the Diplomatic Quarter of Starhold with land set aside for future expansions should the UEK decide to leave it’s Isolation. The Arrival of the Diplomat was a shock to many, for it was not one of the Ladies own but one of her sisters and more shocking it was…
The Grand doors opened to the main hall of the Palace of Starhold and in walked a Thestral donning a Blue with Purple trimmed padded Tabard, this Thestral was of the Royal line of Marshal’s for the Clan Council and the court.
With a light clearing of his throat he began his announcement “I present, Her majesty Princess of the Sun, Daughter of the Sol Invictus Princess Celestia, Arc Mage, chosen niece of the Night Lady, Her Lady Baroness Sunset Shimmer!” with his announcement done, he turned to the left and backed up four steps before dropping into a kneeling bow.
In through the Doors walked a Mare with a Orange coat, her mane and tail a resplendent yellow and dark red swerling mix. She wore a Royal White and blue trimmed Gambeson, over that she wore light plate armor consisting of Bracers, Pauldrons, Bazubands, Leggings and a Cuirass of resplendent black silver with red trimming. She cut an intimidating figure, but considering the lands she had to traverse a needed one.
As one the Clan Council stood from their chairs and bowed, it was surprising to them that a Solar aligned Unicorn would be sent. The Council had thought it would be a Night aligned pony that would be sent to them, but they would work with this development.
The head of the Council stood from his bow “Greetings Lady shimmer, I am Nightwing the head of the Clan Council and leader of Clan Wing thus I wish to officially welcome you here” he then looks left.
Nightwing gestures at another being “The Thestral to the left of me is Shimmering Moonlight, Head of Clan Moonlight” he then looks right.
Nightwing gestures at the being to his right “This to my right is Astral Star, Head of Clan Star” he then gestures Sunset to a seat in front of the table.
The three Thestrals sit back down “Please, have a seat so we may speak Lady Shimmer” he then gestures to a lone Thestral off to the far left, who disappears through a door to his right. The same Thestral returns not a moment later with a tray, mugs and two Growlers, the stallion sets the tray on the table and begins pouring an almost amethyst colored liquid into the four mugs. Once he was done he goes around the table and places one in front of the four beings.
Nightwing clears his throat before speaking “I will get right to the point, the Embassy is built and land has been set aside for expansion should it be needed in the future” he stops a moment, looking left then right at his fellow council members before continuing “Though we were not expecting a solar aligned pony to be sent, so the decorations are as you would imagine more darker themed” he finishes with a bit of a sheepish look.
With a look to his left he gestures for Shimmering to speak, who nods “Lady Shimmer, I welcome you to Starhold and thank you for making the journey out here” he stops for a moment and brings out a scroll from a small bag on the table before handing it to an attendant who walks to Lady Shimmer and hands it to her “That Lady Shimmer is a list of the six volentiers of Clan Moonlight who have agreed to work with you at the Embassy until such time as you have a full Equestrian Staff” he then gestures to Nightwings left.
With the gesture Astral Star nods “I echo the same greeting as my fellow Council member and while I do not have a scroll for Clan Star’s own volunteers, the six who did will arrive with the ones from Clan Moonlight” he gives a nod and gestures back to Nightwing.
Nightwing nods before looking at Lady Shimmer and raising his mug “with that all out of the way, let us raise a toast to better Futures and closer contact between the Thestrals of Everglow and the Ponies of Equestria!” with that the rest of the beings at the table raise their mugs in cheers.
Two Years Post Embassy Establishment
For Sunset Shimmer, it has been two years since she became the Ambassador to the Thestral Empire of Everglow. She has only gotten sparse news from Equestria and the happenings there. It was far from a boring post, the “nightlife” was amazing as between the Clubs, Bars and general other nighttime activities kept her busy when she wasn’t doing paperwork or talking to the Council.
Though the news that was soon to come would change many things to come in the future, it was a normal “day” for the young Unicorn who had just finished the minimal paperwork (she could have sworn it was growing as she put some in the outbox) and was just now entering the Council Chambers of the Palace to speak with them.
She had just reached the doors when the sound of metal on marble could be heard coming from behind her, it happened in an instant as she was shoved aside and the doors in front of her were thrown open. The small glance she got told her it was a Council Messenger and one that was frantic at that.
The Comotion upon her entrance to the Chamber was deafening to say the least, in a near empty large chamber like this three arguing beings sounded like a thousand. The Arguing stopped the moment she was noticed though and she was thankful for it.
Nightwing gestured for her to step forward “Lady Shimmer, news has come in from Equestria!” he then handed the folded paper back to the Messenger and with a hushed word the Messenger walked from the Dias down to sunset and presented it to her.
Sunset noticed it was a newspaper, more accurately it was a paper from the “Equestria Daily” and was dated from two weeks ago.
It was the Headline on the first page that shocked her the most though, at first she thought it to be a joke but upon further inspection the Press Seal (a Seal that is built into the machine to keep fakes from being passed off as real) was in the upper left corner of the front page.
NEW EMPIRE APPEARS OUT OF NOWHERE!
It was a beat before anything was said, but the first thing to come out of Sunsets mouth startled all who hear it “WHAT IN THE LOVE OF CELESTIA'S CAKE FILLED FLANK!”
It would be six more weeks before a Royal Messenger would show up at the Embassy bearing official news.