Post

Region: The Alliance of Dictators

LodgedFromMessages


The Equestrianic Imperium of Twilight Sparkle

Sanctuary Point wrote:Major Black looked at Pearlescent questioningly. “I’m not sure that is the best route to take. The Ministorum takes itself incredibly seriously and wouldn’t stand for any imitation even in the name of protecting someone from cultists. If you went to hide with them, they’d have you memorize the entirety of the Celestial and Lunar Scripture.” He pulled the thick tome from her saddlebag and held it up to her face. “This ‘abridged’ version is already ten pounds and has three million words. You would have to at least learn this book well enough to recite passages in your sleep. Do you think you could do that?”

There was a brief moment of hesitation on Pearlescent's face when she saw the tome, but then she permitted herself a small (and ever so slightly smug) smile.

"...Yes, I think I could do that," she said. "My Father may be a monster who tortures innocent Ponies and is willing to murder his own daughter if it serves his interests, but back when he still thought he could control my life and bend me to his will, he took very good care of my education. Ever since I was a small filly barely old enough to walk, Father had me memorize complex spell patterns, countless old legends about Unicorn supremacy and the entire history of the Vanhoover Ducal Dynasty. He always said our family had been bred for intellectual tasks for hundreds of generations... Well, I'm willing to put that to the test!"

For a moment some echo of Pearlescent's old "Highborn Unicorn Lady" persona seemed to reassert itself. It lasted only for a few seconds before she realized it and let out a very embarrassed sounding little cough.

Quickly, she added, "...Ahem, I mean... It would allow me to both hide effectively and give me an opportunity to learn as much about your ways as possible."

Sanctuary Point wrote:Alula’s eyes stared into Rainbow, hiding contempt that this alternate of an arch traitor would compare the five millennia of ceaseless war the Diarchy had survived to the two decades of intermittent combat this Imperium had experienced. She bit back what she wanted to tell the Equestrians about war and focused on the garden as well. “It’s not really a sustenance garden though the plants are edible in case of dire circumstances. More of a luxury, one of the few we Elysians allow ourselves aside from ambrosia. Most of our food is grown elsewhere and transferred here though we do have large stores of combat rations.”

She lead the Equestrians along a different canal, heading towards a grand structure made of clouds and steel that loomed ahead by nearly two leagues. “The adults of New Elysium are working, either guarding the city wall, teaching the next generation in the Schola Millitarum or otherwise… occupied.” Alula knew better than to tell foreign officials that the bulk of her regiment was in low orbit patrols over Equestrian and Diarchal territory as quick reaction forces, the resulting paranoia would dramatically hamper future cooperation. “Shall we visit the schola? Perhaps you could speak to some the instructors?” Alula suggested.

Rainbow was sharp enough to notice the moderate drop in Alula's disposition but her social skills were not quite honed enough to determine the exact cause. Twilight had mentioned the Novumequines were easily offended... She'd have to watch her every word carefully.

Raising an eyebrow to Alula's hesitation about the whereabouts of New Elysium's adults, she decided not to press the issue further. Her own scouts and monitoring stations kept delivering her reports about suspicious Novumequine patrols on a daily basis. So far they had done nothing that couldn't be seen as a simple (if a bit overzealous) guard duty, but the General had her own theories about their intentions.

The Schola Militarium gave both Rainbow and her entourage a pause. Even for someone who had grown up among the grandiose cloud structures of Cloudsdale, the immense building ahead was a truly impressive feat of engineering.

Quickly regaining her composure, Rainbow gave a nod to her Novumequine counterpart.

"Yes," she said. "I'm sure it will be a most interesting experience."

ContextReport