The UN is a government of governments. I would rather make a network of alliances with us first among equals. Same thing in the end, benefits us and most others more.
Who Needs Harmony?: An MLP Empire Quest
- Thread starter Questor
- Start date
Same thing kingdom is government vise versa
- Location
- Italy
later on, probably. not now though.
Or at least right now it would likely start as a gradual thing. The only country that would immediately join this kind of organization would probably be Neighpon, and as we're already close allies that's not necessary.
the Yaks might, but they're pretty proud and stubborn, so it might be better to wait a few more years, or until after either Changeling and/or Yak problems are dealt with. Right now they'd likely accept an alliance with US, but they're relatively isolationists with everyone else, so they'd likely not be interested
Agreements between equals are different than fighting for political power in a supranational body.
- Location
- Italy
Not quite next to us, but I get what you mean. I thought Equestria was beyond the blizzard too.
If I had to guess, probably reindeers or something similar to that. Didn't the Caribou mention something about a race "like theirs, but different"?
- Location
- NJ
It's close enough to us.
Maybe that's where we can find Penguins.
Where did they say that?
- Location
- Italy
I think it was mentioned when we asked who lived in their continent/beyond the blizzard, but I'm not sure. It's been months after all
- Location
- Washington
You guys were surprised that Equestria wasn't behind the blizzard? I thought that it was pretty obvious they weren't. Y'all just sort of assumed without evidence. 
- Location
- Italy
It was my theory I think. I was basing it on the "the ponies of Equestria came from a land frozen by the Windigoes", but admittedly, with Discord putting the various country wherever he wanted to, that wasn't really a reasonable assumption.You guys were surprised that Equestria wasn't behind the blizzard? I thought that it was pretty obvious they weren't. Y'all just sort of assumed without evidence.
- Location
- Italy
We're kinda busy with Maretonia, yeti and changelings right now. I'd rather leave that place alone, at least for now.
- Location
- NJ
Yeah I meant after we deal with a few things on the Homefront. And what's the chance we'll meet a friendly Yeti faction?
- Location
- Italy
unknown, but probably low in my opinion.
I think it might be more interesting to contact the Zebras rather than trying to brave the Blizzard, though given enough time we might try to fly above the storm in our airships.
- Location
- NJ
Can't hurt to try.
They probably do have some interesting stuff to trade with.
Doesn't the blizzard cover the whole thing? And what about submarines.
- Location
- Italy
they're probably too high-tech for us, and in any case the blizzard is on LAND, not sea/ocean.
I think it should be possible to fly OVER the blizzard, to reach whatever NOT-storm-ridden land is beyond there.
But again, I'm more interested in the Zebra, and their ritual magic and potioncraft/alchemy.
and, obviously, we're about to actually talk to the equestrians.
- Location
- NJ
Fair enough.
Huh, good to know, hopefully we don't have to go to high to get over it.
Same here, hopefully we don't meet a future enemy and just find an ally.
Here's hoping for a good impression we leave on them.
- Location
- Washington
Idea for later: form a defensive pact with Equestria for in the event Yetis attack.
- Location
- The state of Paranoia
Oh, I'm dumb. I meant to put this song at the start of the omake to set the mood, but forgot to add it in.
There, now it's added.
Pay no attention to the fact that it's about WW1, probably the furthest thing from maneuver warfare possible.
There, now it's added.
Pay no attention to the fact that it's about WW1, probably the furthest thing from maneuver warfare possible.
Last edited:
- Location
- Italy
depending on how contact goes, maybe. It would have to wait until AFTER Maretonia, as our armies are currently busy.
They need to offer something worthy in exchange though. They have MUCH more to gain from such a deal than us. After all we have the yaks between the yeti and us, and our people are probably tired of war.
Also we already have a mutual defense deal (or we're about to make one, I can't remember) with the yaks, so they technically get precedence I think
The Crystal Princess
- Location
- Maryland
The very air of the Crystal Palace's Grand Hall had a nearly ethereal feel to it. Whoever the building's mysterious architects had been, they had clearly been both highly skilled and possessed a great eye for detail, as the geometry of the expansive space had been planned precisely to ensure that the sun would filter through the room's strikingly tall windows, reflecting and refracting in dazzling patterns off of the multifaceted crystalline walls and onto the magnificently tiled floor. The effect was amplified a hundredfold today, as each individual beam of light scattered off of the myriad jewels, pocket watch chains and "functionally decorative" armor pieces worn by the assembled multitudes of the Empire's elite. Upon entering, one beheld a sea of shining points, like stars brought down into the room from the night sky.
Princess Gleaming Pearl walked through the maze of exhibits set up throughout the room, navigating her way past knots of nobles that converged upon the displayed sculptures and canvas paintings like moths to open flames, stopping occasionally to give or receive polite greetings from the numerous counts, lords, barons and business magnates that had deigned to attend her auction. For it was indeed her auction. Many of the works on display may have been sourced from other artists, and the auction itself had officially been jointly organized by the Crystal Assembly (Consul Ivory Rook himself was even in attendance tonight!) and an association of local philanthropists, but she had been the one to handle the details of the auction itself. She had arranged the catering, hired much of the staff, written the invitations, created and donated some of the most prominent pieces of artwork up for sale (her crystalmancy allowing her to perform the work of an entire team of expert sculptors), and used her status as a member of the Royal family to bring attention and interest to the event.
It was the least she could do, really. Certainly, there were few causes as worthy as this one. The plight of the Maretonian people, particularly those that had fled their war-torn homeland, was something that nearly every Crystal Pony alive could empathize with. Time and the Empire had done much to heal the scars of Sombra's reign, but Gleaming and all those who had been born into slavery under the Shadow King would never be able to forget the horrors that they had witnessed and endured during their time as his slaves.
It came as no surprise then, that the inhabitants of the Crystal City had opened up their doors and their coffers to the huddled masses of war refugees displaced by Pegicles' latest offensive. When the refugee camps outside the City limits had reached full capacity, the Crystal Assembly had leased an entire block of residential housing to handle the overflow, and when even those buildings had been filled, dozens of families and private citizens had come forward to offer up spare rooms in their own homes, seeking to pay forward the generosity that the Griffons and Diamond Dogs had shown them. Yes, there had been those who had urged caution, even some who had expressed doubts in the moral character of some of the Maretonians that were being taken in, but they were firmly in the minority, outnumbered ten to one by those whose generosity and empathy outweighed any fears or concerns they might have held.
It made her proud to be a Crystal Pony, to know that her people had turned their own mental scars into a call for action, to ensure that no one else would ever have to suffer as they did.
Gleaming made her way over towards one of the exhibits, one of the many pieces put up by independent artists from throughout the Empire: in this instance, an oil painting depicting the Battle of Wingbardy. Such martially-oriented art appeared to be a theme at this auction; she estimated that roughly a third of the pieces on display had some manner of military bent to them. Paintings of battle scenes, sculptures of knights, busts of Imperial heroes, swords of stained glass, even a gilded breastplate donated by a blacksmith who specialized in "luxury armor" for nobles and high-ranking army officers. Another symptom of Griffon culture being adopted by the inhabitants of the Crystal City, and their idolization of the soldiers that had risked and even sacrificed their lives to free them from the clutches of Sombra. With how little they remembered of their past before the rise of the dread king, she supposed it only made sense that they would seek to emulate the trappings and behaviors of their saviors.
Each item up for bid was being watched over by a scribe managing a small wooden box and a roll of parchment. The auction was silent, with bidding conducted in secret, but the current highest bid for any item was available on request from its attendant. Gleaming recognized the mare watching over the painting: Clear Quartz, one of several Crystal University students who had volunteered to donate their time and labor to the auction. The scholar had been a great help to Gleaming over the course of the last few days, more than once going out of her way to volunteer for extra duties, helping the Princess organize and plan such a grandiose event.
Of course, Gleaming wasn't stupid. She knew that the Mare was almost certainly taking on extra responsibilities in hopes of drawing attention to herself, perhaps hoping that her contribution in the here and now would guarantee her a position somewhere in the ever-expanding bureaucratic machine that was the Imperial Government once she graduated. That didn't mean she shouldn't be acknowledged for her efforts or afforded such an opportunity. She was a hard worker, clearly intelligent, and seemed to have a genuine interest in the work she was performing.
Honestly, if Clear Quartz didn't wind up seeking out a specific position, Pearl might be tempted to hire the filly herself. The Princess was planning on becoming more involved in politics in the future, and if she was going to have a hope of getting anything done she'd need a competent staff of her own...something to keep in mind going forward.
The young lady in question was garbed in a simple white gown, perfect for fading into the background while still living up to the standard of the auction. She gave Pearl a polite smile, gesturing to the partially unrolled scroll next to her.
"It's been rather quiet so far, Your Majesty. There's been some activity on a few of the other items, but only a few bids here. It's still quite early though, so things should pick up a bit more soon."
Pearl took a moment to glance about the room at the many pieces on display. It was not surprising that most of the guests were waiting to place their bids on them. After the first few bids, it would become clear what sort of price range the item would fetch. "Well, perhaps I can help you out with that, then. I'd like to make a bid of my own."
Quartz didn't even blink. "Of course, Your Majesty. The current winning bid stands at fifteen hundred marks, submitted around five minutes ago."
"Put me down for an even two thousand."
"Of course, Your Majesty."
Quartz made a note on her parchment, made a record of the bid on a smaller slip, then presented it for Pearl's signature. Once the Imperial Seal had been added in the bottom corner, Quartz folded up the slip and added it to the wooden box.
"Normally I would ask for proof of credit on a bid of that sum."
Gleaming smirked.
"Perhaps my word will be good enough?"
Quartz chuckled.
"I think that we can make an exception this time."
Pearl gave her fellow Equine a grateful nod and a thank you as she turned to continue walking the auction floor. She was beyond grateful for the help of the many volunteers who had pitched in to help make this event a reality. All of them had put in the work necessary to make this auction a brilliant success, and the Princess was sure that it would capture all of the funds necessary to ensure adequate support for those in need.
Her smile widened a touch.
Of course, that wasn't to say that she wasn't going to help in getting as much money out of this auction as she could. A few artificial bids here and there to drive up prices and spur interest and excitement was all it would take. Her father's advice, borne of his own past life as a merchant long before Pearl had been born, was proving invaluable to the Princess in her self-appointed task. Speaking of whom...
She glanced off to the opposite side of the Grand Hall, where she could just barely make out the imposing form of the Emperor through a crowd of hangers-on, his crown and regalia polished to a fine sheen. Her mother was at his side, looking as regal and beautiful as her title as Empress befitted, the two Griffons a picture perfect representation of Royal grace as they hobnobbed with the assorted nobility. Seeing the two command the attention of some of the wealthiest and flightiest of the Empire's social elite, one could immediately understand why more than one publication had referred to the duo as "Gryphus' number one power couple".
Truthfully, Gleaming hadn't been sure whether to ask her father to attend this event. His duties as ruler of the nation kept him busy at even the best of times, but these past few months had been exceptionally burdensome to him. He had tried to hide it, to shoulder the burden as he had every other that he had been made to bear over the years, but she could see the stress and the tension in him even now. Between Maretonia, the Equestrians and the massive military buildup that she suspected had much to do with the rapidly worsening situation south of the border, she thought that her father had enough on his plate. It wouldn't have been right for her to try and guilt-trip him into flying halfway across the Empire to attend exactly the sort of social event that her parents and brother loved to complain about.
And so she had been quite surprised when he had come to her to ask, in the most casual of manners, if it would be ok for him and her mother to attend.
The only reason he'd asked was because he didn't want to risk "upstaging" her. It was, after all, her event, not his, and he didn't want his presence to distract anyone from the work he knew she had put into the auction.
For the thousandth time, she had thanked whatever being had blessed her with such a wonderful set of parents. She had of course told them that she would be delighted to have them make an appearance. It was as much a practical decision was it was a personal one. The simple fact that the Emperor and Empress were attending had made the auction a can't miss event that no self-respecting noble or nouveau riche tycoon could afford to skip. Her being able to show her parents the fruits of her labors, to make them proud and show them how she was striving to make the world a better place, was simply the icing on the proverbial cake.
Still, as happy as she was that her parents could attend, she would admit to feeling the slightest pang of disappointment that the entirety of her family could not be present tonight. Gawain, romantic that he was, was celebrating his and Isabelle's two year anniversary (it was Pearl's opinion that they'd been dating for much longer than that, but it had only been recently that they'd both realized and admitted to it), trying to get in as much time together as they could before he departed the Empire on another diplomatic mission. Gilda was performing her own princesssly duties, inspecting the newly formed military units and "showing the flag", whatever that meant. And Gwyndlyn had stated (reluctantly and with no small amount of shame and embarrassment on her part) that she didn't trust herself not to nibble on some of the mineral-based sculptures on display. Gleaming had understood...perhaps she'd use her magic to craft a crystalline cake for her draconic sister's birthday next year?
She shook her head to clear the errant train of thought and glanced out the window, noting the sun dipping lower in the sky. It was nearly time for the reveal of the auction's centerpiece.
Another ploy to grab people's attention and inflame their curiosity in an attempt to get them to attend and part with their money: unlike the many other pieces on display, which had been publicly advertised in the run up to today's event, the headlining item had been unlisted, kept secret until the day of the auction itself. No one save Gleaming and a scant hoofull of the auction staff had any idea what was standing behind the curtain upon the stage at the head of the chamber. She'd even gone so far as to request the services of a pair of Knights to discourage anyone from peeking behind the curtain, the two Crystal Guardians standing so still in their vigil they resembled statues themselves. Not even her own parents had been told. She'd wanted it to be a surprise.
She smiled as she weaved her way through the crowd, making her way towards the lectern upon the stage. She had been looking forward to this all week. She had saved her greatest masterpiece for last. Oh, she was proud of all of the works she had deigned to put on display tonight, but this was the one that she had put the most effort and care into, the one that she thought best exemplified her skill and priorities as an artist.
The auction's attendees immediately noticed the Princess heading for the stage, and it wasn't very long before the whole of the room's inhabitants were crowded about, eager for the chance to lay their eyes upon the headlining item. Such a grand showcase demanded an equally exceptional treasure to serve as its crowning item, and from the looks on the faces of her audience, Pearl could tell that no one wanted to wait any longer than they had to. Still, ceremony dictated that a few words be said first. She took her place at the podium and gave the assembled patricians and gentry a patented Golden-feather political smile.
"Ladies and Gentlebeings of the Crystal City and the Empire, thank you all for coming. It is fitting that we should have such a fine day to gather and admire these great works, so generously donated by a bevy of talented artists."
There was a smattering of polite applause, members of the crowd either clapping their talons or gently stamping their hooves as befitted their physiology.
"All of the items on display tonight will be going home with some very lucky buyers, including the very special item behind me, which I know you are all quite eager to see.
Several ponies and Griffons in the front row leaned forward. The tension in the room was building.
"Tonight's centerpiece is an item that I have crafted personally, something that I believe truly embodies the Imperial Spirit."
Gleaming turned to regard the Crystal Knights behind her, each one now clutching a braided rope aside the curtains. This time there was no applause from the audience. Every eye was fixed on the curtain itself.
"Sir Knights, if you would do the honors?"
Of course, the Knights were just as curious as everyone else in the room to find out what all the buildup was going to lead to, and as they pulled on the rope one of them almost stumbled in an attempt to see around the curtain as it came apart. The stallion was able to keep his balance, although it was likely that no one save Gleaming herself would have even noticed. In silence, the veil was parted, and the centerpiece item was revealed.
Atop a wide squat pedestal, standing shoulder-to-shoulder, were a trio of life-sized crystalline figures: a Griffon, a Diamond Dog and a Pony. Each one was meticulously detailed, so much so that it appeared as if three living beings had been transmuted directly into natural glass. Claws, facial features, even the subtle outlines of muscle groups were visible to any who bothered to look closely enough. Careful sculpting gave the appearance of individual feathers upon the Griffon's wings and strands of hair upon the pony's mane and the dog's coat, the rays of the setting sun shining through the window at the other end of the chamber contributing to an optical illusion of shimmering light that made it appear as if they were gently moving in an imaginary breeze, all while producing a rainbow of colors as light refracted off of and through them.
The Griffon stood in the center staring straight out over the audience with piercing eyes carved of amber, it's wings mantled around the other two figures, as if seeking to shield them or to draw them closer to itself. The Dog and Pony, for their part, stood facing each other, though the subtle tilt of their heads gave the impression that they were splitting their vision and attention between their two counterparts. The Griffon's left talon held an olive branch of peridot, the right a bundle of arrows with heads of hematite. The Diamond Dog hefted a pickaxe, the mining tool clutched between it's paws carved of solid jet. The Crystal Pony held a miniature Crystal Heart of aquamarine, a rune matrix in it's hoof causing the mock relic to slowly spin in a circle, an imitation of the real heart's behavior. Affixed to the base of the dias was a bronze plaque engraved with the title of the piece: Strength in Unity.
There was a silence in the room for three whole seconds, and then the sound of clapping erupted from the rear of the crowd. As the applause was taken up by the audience, it eventually jolted every being in the room from their stunned reverie, and broad smiles broke out across the chamber. The Princess returned their grins, happy to see that her finest work had lived up to the hype.
Her masterpiece had been the product of months of effort and countless hours of experimentation, pioneering entirely new techniques made possible only by her unparalleled control over her chosen building material. Even when capable of controlling the exact shape of the Crystal with her magic, she'd still made more than a few glaring mistakes during the piece's creation, and had needed to start over from scratch. She had even gone to the trouble of studying runecraft to create the matrix needed to make the miniature heart rotate properly, unwilling to let someone else do the work for her. But seeing the looks upon the faces of the crowd, feeling the gazes full of pride from her parents, and hearing the whispered bids which had opened in the five-digit range, she felt as if every sleepless night or day of frustration had been more than worth it.
She had used her passion to help the Empire and it's people, to make a positive difference in the lives of others, and her success tonight was an accomplishment that she would take pride in for the rest of her days.
Gleaming Pearl's Auction is a resounding success. Tens of thousands of Marks are raised to ensure the welfare of the Maretonian refugees, and the Crystal Princess has cemented her position in the eyes of the public, somehow becoming even more beloved than before.
You are immensely proud.
Princess Gleaming Pearl walked through the maze of exhibits set up throughout the room, navigating her way past knots of nobles that converged upon the displayed sculptures and canvas paintings like moths to open flames, stopping occasionally to give or receive polite greetings from the numerous counts, lords, barons and business magnates that had deigned to attend her auction. For it was indeed her auction. Many of the works on display may have been sourced from other artists, and the auction itself had officially been jointly organized by the Crystal Assembly (Consul Ivory Rook himself was even in attendance tonight!) and an association of local philanthropists, but she had been the one to handle the details of the auction itself. She had arranged the catering, hired much of the staff, written the invitations, created and donated some of the most prominent pieces of artwork up for sale (her crystalmancy allowing her to perform the work of an entire team of expert sculptors), and used her status as a member of the Royal family to bring attention and interest to the event.
It was the least she could do, really. Certainly, there were few causes as worthy as this one. The plight of the Maretonian people, particularly those that had fled their war-torn homeland, was something that nearly every Crystal Pony alive could empathize with. Time and the Empire had done much to heal the scars of Sombra's reign, but Gleaming and all those who had been born into slavery under the Shadow King would never be able to forget the horrors that they had witnessed and endured during their time as his slaves.
It came as no surprise then, that the inhabitants of the Crystal City had opened up their doors and their coffers to the huddled masses of war refugees displaced by Pegicles' latest offensive. When the refugee camps outside the City limits had reached full capacity, the Crystal Assembly had leased an entire block of residential housing to handle the overflow, and when even those buildings had been filled, dozens of families and private citizens had come forward to offer up spare rooms in their own homes, seeking to pay forward the generosity that the Griffons and Diamond Dogs had shown them. Yes, there had been those who had urged caution, even some who had expressed doubts in the moral character of some of the Maretonians that were being taken in, but they were firmly in the minority, outnumbered ten to one by those whose generosity and empathy outweighed any fears or concerns they might have held.
It made her proud to be a Crystal Pony, to know that her people had turned their own mental scars into a call for action, to ensure that no one else would ever have to suffer as they did.
Gleaming made her way over towards one of the exhibits, one of the many pieces put up by independent artists from throughout the Empire: in this instance, an oil painting depicting the Battle of Wingbardy. Such martially-oriented art appeared to be a theme at this auction; she estimated that roughly a third of the pieces on display had some manner of military bent to them. Paintings of battle scenes, sculptures of knights, busts of Imperial heroes, swords of stained glass, even a gilded breastplate donated by a blacksmith who specialized in "luxury armor" for nobles and high-ranking army officers. Another symptom of Griffon culture being adopted by the inhabitants of the Crystal City, and their idolization of the soldiers that had risked and even sacrificed their lives to free them from the clutches of Sombra. With how little they remembered of their past before the rise of the dread king, she supposed it only made sense that they would seek to emulate the trappings and behaviors of their saviors.
Each item up for bid was being watched over by a scribe managing a small wooden box and a roll of parchment. The auction was silent, with bidding conducted in secret, but the current highest bid for any item was available on request from its attendant. Gleaming recognized the mare watching over the painting: Clear Quartz, one of several Crystal University students who had volunteered to donate their time and labor to the auction. The scholar had been a great help to Gleaming over the course of the last few days, more than once going out of her way to volunteer for extra duties, helping the Princess organize and plan such a grandiose event.
Of course, Gleaming wasn't stupid. She knew that the Mare was almost certainly taking on extra responsibilities in hopes of drawing attention to herself, perhaps hoping that her contribution in the here and now would guarantee her a position somewhere in the ever-expanding bureaucratic machine that was the Imperial Government once she graduated. That didn't mean she shouldn't be acknowledged for her efforts or afforded such an opportunity. She was a hard worker, clearly intelligent, and seemed to have a genuine interest in the work she was performing.
Honestly, if Clear Quartz didn't wind up seeking out a specific position, Pearl might be tempted to hire the filly herself. The Princess was planning on becoming more involved in politics in the future, and if she was going to have a hope of getting anything done she'd need a competent staff of her own...something to keep in mind going forward.
The young lady in question was garbed in a simple white gown, perfect for fading into the background while still living up to the standard of the auction. She gave Pearl a polite smile, gesturing to the partially unrolled scroll next to her.
"It's been rather quiet so far, Your Majesty. There's been some activity on a few of the other items, but only a few bids here. It's still quite early though, so things should pick up a bit more soon."
Pearl took a moment to glance about the room at the many pieces on display. It was not surprising that most of the guests were waiting to place their bids on them. After the first few bids, it would become clear what sort of price range the item would fetch. "Well, perhaps I can help you out with that, then. I'd like to make a bid of my own."
Quartz didn't even blink. "Of course, Your Majesty. The current winning bid stands at fifteen hundred marks, submitted around five minutes ago."
"Put me down for an even two thousand."
"Of course, Your Majesty."
Quartz made a note on her parchment, made a record of the bid on a smaller slip, then presented it for Pearl's signature. Once the Imperial Seal had been added in the bottom corner, Quartz folded up the slip and added it to the wooden box.
"Normally I would ask for proof of credit on a bid of that sum."
Gleaming smirked.
"Perhaps my word will be good enough?"
Quartz chuckled.
"I think that we can make an exception this time."
Pearl gave her fellow Equine a grateful nod and a thank you as she turned to continue walking the auction floor. She was beyond grateful for the help of the many volunteers who had pitched in to help make this event a reality. All of them had put in the work necessary to make this auction a brilliant success, and the Princess was sure that it would capture all of the funds necessary to ensure adequate support for those in need.
Her smile widened a touch.
Of course, that wasn't to say that she wasn't going to help in getting as much money out of this auction as she could. A few artificial bids here and there to drive up prices and spur interest and excitement was all it would take. Her father's advice, borne of his own past life as a merchant long before Pearl had been born, was proving invaluable to the Princess in her self-appointed task. Speaking of whom...
She glanced off to the opposite side of the Grand Hall, where she could just barely make out the imposing form of the Emperor through a crowd of hangers-on, his crown and regalia polished to a fine sheen. Her mother was at his side, looking as regal and beautiful as her title as Empress befitted, the two Griffons a picture perfect representation of Royal grace as they hobnobbed with the assorted nobility. Seeing the two command the attention of some of the wealthiest and flightiest of the Empire's social elite, one could immediately understand why more than one publication had referred to the duo as "Gryphus' number one power couple".
Truthfully, Gleaming hadn't been sure whether to ask her father to attend this event. His duties as ruler of the nation kept him busy at even the best of times, but these past few months had been exceptionally burdensome to him. He had tried to hide it, to shoulder the burden as he had every other that he had been made to bear over the years, but she could see the stress and the tension in him even now. Between Maretonia, the Equestrians and the massive military buildup that she suspected had much to do with the rapidly worsening situation south of the border, she thought that her father had enough on his plate. It wouldn't have been right for her to try and guilt-trip him into flying halfway across the Empire to attend exactly the sort of social event that her parents and brother loved to complain about.
And so she had been quite surprised when he had come to her to ask, in the most casual of manners, if it would be ok for him and her mother to attend.
The only reason he'd asked was because he didn't want to risk "upstaging" her. It was, after all, her event, not his, and he didn't want his presence to distract anyone from the work he knew she had put into the auction.
For the thousandth time, she had thanked whatever being had blessed her with such a wonderful set of parents. She had of course told them that she would be delighted to have them make an appearance. It was as much a practical decision was it was a personal one. The simple fact that the Emperor and Empress were attending had made the auction a can't miss event that no self-respecting noble or nouveau riche tycoon could afford to skip. Her being able to show her parents the fruits of her labors, to make them proud and show them how she was striving to make the world a better place, was simply the icing on the proverbial cake.
Still, as happy as she was that her parents could attend, she would admit to feeling the slightest pang of disappointment that the entirety of her family could not be present tonight. Gawain, romantic that he was, was celebrating his and Isabelle's two year anniversary (it was Pearl's opinion that they'd been dating for much longer than that, but it had only been recently that they'd both realized and admitted to it), trying to get in as much time together as they could before he departed the Empire on another diplomatic mission. Gilda was performing her own princesssly duties, inspecting the newly formed military units and "showing the flag", whatever that meant. And Gwyndlyn had stated (reluctantly and with no small amount of shame and embarrassment on her part) that she didn't trust herself not to nibble on some of the mineral-based sculptures on display. Gleaming had understood...perhaps she'd use her magic to craft a crystalline cake for her draconic sister's birthday next year?
She shook her head to clear the errant train of thought and glanced out the window, noting the sun dipping lower in the sky. It was nearly time for the reveal of the auction's centerpiece.
Another ploy to grab people's attention and inflame their curiosity in an attempt to get them to attend and part with their money: unlike the many other pieces on display, which had been publicly advertised in the run up to today's event, the headlining item had been unlisted, kept secret until the day of the auction itself. No one save Gleaming and a scant hoofull of the auction staff had any idea what was standing behind the curtain upon the stage at the head of the chamber. She'd even gone so far as to request the services of a pair of Knights to discourage anyone from peeking behind the curtain, the two Crystal Guardians standing so still in their vigil they resembled statues themselves. Not even her own parents had been told. She'd wanted it to be a surprise.
She smiled as she weaved her way through the crowd, making her way towards the lectern upon the stage. She had been looking forward to this all week. She had saved her greatest masterpiece for last. Oh, she was proud of all of the works she had deigned to put on display tonight, but this was the one that she had put the most effort and care into, the one that she thought best exemplified her skill and priorities as an artist.
The auction's attendees immediately noticed the Princess heading for the stage, and it wasn't very long before the whole of the room's inhabitants were crowded about, eager for the chance to lay their eyes upon the headlining item. Such a grand showcase demanded an equally exceptional treasure to serve as its crowning item, and from the looks on the faces of her audience, Pearl could tell that no one wanted to wait any longer than they had to. Still, ceremony dictated that a few words be said first. She took her place at the podium and gave the assembled patricians and gentry a patented Golden-feather political smile.
"Ladies and Gentlebeings of the Crystal City and the Empire, thank you all for coming. It is fitting that we should have such a fine day to gather and admire these great works, so generously donated by a bevy of talented artists."
There was a smattering of polite applause, members of the crowd either clapping their talons or gently stamping their hooves as befitted their physiology.
"All of the items on display tonight will be going home with some very lucky buyers, including the very special item behind me, which I know you are all quite eager to see.
Several ponies and Griffons in the front row leaned forward. The tension in the room was building.
"Tonight's centerpiece is an item that I have crafted personally, something that I believe truly embodies the Imperial Spirit."
Gleaming turned to regard the Crystal Knights behind her, each one now clutching a braided rope aside the curtains. This time there was no applause from the audience. Every eye was fixed on the curtain itself.
"Sir Knights, if you would do the honors?"
Of course, the Knights were just as curious as everyone else in the room to find out what all the buildup was going to lead to, and as they pulled on the rope one of them almost stumbled in an attempt to see around the curtain as it came apart. The stallion was able to keep his balance, although it was likely that no one save Gleaming herself would have even noticed. In silence, the veil was parted, and the centerpiece item was revealed.
Atop a wide squat pedestal, standing shoulder-to-shoulder, were a trio of life-sized crystalline figures: a Griffon, a Diamond Dog and a Pony. Each one was meticulously detailed, so much so that it appeared as if three living beings had been transmuted directly into natural glass. Claws, facial features, even the subtle outlines of muscle groups were visible to any who bothered to look closely enough. Careful sculpting gave the appearance of individual feathers upon the Griffon's wings and strands of hair upon the pony's mane and the dog's coat, the rays of the setting sun shining through the window at the other end of the chamber contributing to an optical illusion of shimmering light that made it appear as if they were gently moving in an imaginary breeze, all while producing a rainbow of colors as light refracted off of and through them.
The Griffon stood in the center staring straight out over the audience with piercing eyes carved of amber, it's wings mantled around the other two figures, as if seeking to shield them or to draw them closer to itself. The Dog and Pony, for their part, stood facing each other, though the subtle tilt of their heads gave the impression that they were splitting their vision and attention between their two counterparts. The Griffon's left talon held an olive branch of peridot, the right a bundle of arrows with heads of hematite. The Diamond Dog hefted a pickaxe, the mining tool clutched between it's paws carved of solid jet. The Crystal Pony held a miniature Crystal Heart of aquamarine, a rune matrix in it's hoof causing the mock relic to slowly spin in a circle, an imitation of the real heart's behavior. Affixed to the base of the dias was a bronze plaque engraved with the title of the piece: Strength in Unity.
There was a silence in the room for three whole seconds, and then the sound of clapping erupted from the rear of the crowd. As the applause was taken up by the audience, it eventually jolted every being in the room from their stunned reverie, and broad smiles broke out across the chamber. The Princess returned their grins, happy to see that her finest work had lived up to the hype.
Her masterpiece had been the product of months of effort and countless hours of experimentation, pioneering entirely new techniques made possible only by her unparalleled control over her chosen building material. Even when capable of controlling the exact shape of the Crystal with her magic, she'd still made more than a few glaring mistakes during the piece's creation, and had needed to start over from scratch. She had even gone to the trouble of studying runecraft to create the matrix needed to make the miniature heart rotate properly, unwilling to let someone else do the work for her. But seeing the looks upon the faces of the crowd, feeling the gazes full of pride from her parents, and hearing the whispered bids which had opened in the five-digit range, she felt as if every sleepless night or day of frustration had been more than worth it.
She had used her passion to help the Empire and it's people, to make a positive difference in the lives of others, and her success tonight was an accomplishment that she would take pride in for the rest of her days.
Gleaming Pearl's Auction is a resounding success. Tens of thousands of Marks are raised to ensure the welfare of the Maretonian refugees, and the Crystal Princess has cemented her position in the eyes of the public, somehow becoming even more beloved than before.
You are immensely proud.
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- Location
- NJ
What do we have in mind for her again, cause I would like to see how she'll do as a merchant now.
ConfusedCanuck
Where did it all go wrong?
- Location
- Neverland
Right as I'm about to go to bed I see an update! And well I can spare ten minutes for this since it's so well written!