open Equestria Forward (Open)

[FancyHorse 1,208]

8:45 - 9:00 AM. Applelanta.

Arriving since earlier in the morning, the units of the Equestrian Strategies Group have now finished and are ready with their security operations.

 

Ahaban walked along with Nasir following by his side. Still early yet already the traffic was beginning slowly to enter as attendants searched about for parking spots for their vehicles. Growing concern formed about as he worried on numbers.

 

"Was there enough of them?"

 

"Just three section units covering a lot?"

 

Ahaban preferred strength in his numbers. That's not to say gee doubted his comrades abilities. He had full faith they'll do their part.

 

He held onto the chat communicator on his combat carrier speaking in his native language to his fellow Arabian just across the lot on the mounted flechette turret upon their armored patrol carrier.

 

"Check. All normal." He says expecting a respond.

"Roger all normal. Traffic slow but minimal. Probably won't last long." Abdullah replied.

---

 

Bulawayo followed along the fence parameter just at the edge of their lot section, his rifle held to his side as he continued on. Gakumba following close by behind him.

 

"Guess we are not going to see the Wonderbolts? No glimpse either." Gakumba gave slight complaint. Bula simply ignoring it continued occasionally giving the simple greeting smile of ponies whom pass by.

 

"West parameter, check." Ahaban spoke onto the communicator.

 

"Ahaban friend, you seem agitated. All, check so far." Bula replied, expressing concern. He received no response.

[skbl17 199]

8:58 AM Canterlot time, Canterlot Castle's Legislative Wing.

 

"The preparations for your speech are almost complete, Your Excellency."

 

"Very good."

 

The day was finally here. Prince Blueblood was mere minutes away from giving what would undoubtedly remember as the speech that saved Equestria. Today is the first step on his road to becoming a true national hero. For the Prince himself, he had to expend effort to keep his almost childlike, gleeful demeanor from showing.

 

A few steps behind him, Blueblood's scribe also waited for the marble doors to open, but her mood was far different from those of her boss. She was not looking forward to his speech; the fact that she had failed in her plan only frightened her further.

 

A few days earlier; 8:34 PM Canterlot time, PBE's Capital Bureau.

 

A shame she didn't think her plan through.

 

The scribe couldn't pass Blueblood's letter on to Princess Twilight. In the aftermath of the Applelanta attacks and the upcoming speech, security was so tight in Canterlot that all visitors needed at least ten layers of identification and had to pass rigorous background checks, making it downright hard if not impossible to even see any of the Princesses. Even her position as an aide to a member of the royal family didn't help in this environment of heightened security.

 

However, she was desperate, so she decided that she had to get the warning out another way: broadcast media. The scribe knew that the country's public broadcaster, PBE, maintained a large bureau in the heart of Canterlot, not far from the castle. If there was any way to quickly get a warning out, it would be through the country's "most trusted and renowned" media source.

 

"Sorry miss, but we don't broadcast unsubstantiated rumors, even those regarding the Princesses."

 

Unfortunately, the very Editorial Standards and Guidelines that allow PBE to be such a trusted broadcaster in the first place was now getting in the way.

 

"But they aren't unsubstantiated! I work in the Prince's estate! Plus, they aren't rumors; he told me what he was going to do."

 

The editor-in-charge wasn't buying it. If anything, he was irritated.

 

"I understand, but this is still unsubstantiated. Even if we assume for a second that what you're saying is 100% true, who's to say that the Prince won't just deny these allegations? If he denies the claim, then we would've just broadcast an unsubstantiated rumor. Also, you're saying that you're the only one he trusts with this information, yet you're trying to claim anonymity. It won't be hard for him to piece two and two together. If his plan is as 'grand' as you claim it is, who's to say that he won't attempt retribution against you or your family?"

 

"What? That's ludicrous!"

 

The editor-in-charge could only look at her with a deadpan face. "You're talking about the stallion who attempted to have Fillydelphia razed because they didn't serve the right caviar at a restaurant he was visiting. The sky's the limit when it comes to Blueblood and retribution."

 

"I'm prepared to face any consequences. But as a public broadcaster, shouldn't you broadcast in the public interest? This is very much in the public interest!"

 

"Yes, we do. That's why we have a set of guidelines, to ensure that our news product is in the public interest. The public loves a high-quality news product. Unsubstantiated rumors do not count as 'high-quality' under our guidelines."

 

Frustrated, the scribe turned to leave. Before she opened the office door to leave, she uttered 'good night' before leaving. She didn't even stick around to hear the editor-in-charge's response, though she did recall an important phrase the editor-in-charge threw out during their argument, one that only frightened her further.

 

'The sky's the limit when it comes to Blueblood and retribution.'

Edited August 5, 2015 by skbl17

[EnderPrince 49]

8:59 A.M. Canterlot Time, Friday, Canterlot Castle Courtyard

 

Dakon put down the newspaper he had purchased a few days ago and looked out the window of his car. Well, technically, the car belonged to the government official Icicle Hoof, but since he wouldn't be requiring it anytime soon, Dakon felt it was alright if he used it for the time being.

 

"Sir, it's almost time."

 

Dakon glanced down at his watch screen, where he saw the image of another pony looking at him. He immediately recognized the voice as one of his squad leaders. Adam.

 

"Almost time for the meeting, Adam," spoke Dakon to his watch screen. "I want to watch for a little while. See them deliberate over their pointless politics for at least a couple of minutes." He paused. "Being fasionably late never harmed anypony."

 

"Yes sir. Your people are ready to move when you are." The screen of Dakon's watch then flickered, and started to display the time once more.

 

9:01 A.M.

 

9:01. I hear that pompous royal pain-in-the-flank is giving a speech first.

 

Dakon flicked his watch and selected one of the names that appeared on the screen. The face of Adam soon appeared on the glowing display and spoke, "Yes, sir?"

 

Where are those sunglasses I found earlier? "It'll take a few minutes to reach the meeting. I think now is as good a time as any to put this plan into action," Dakon responded to his subordinate's question.

 

"Yes, sir. I'll mobilize the others. We'll be with you at the enterance." The display then flicked back to the time.

 

Ah, here they are. Dakon placed a pair of sunglasses he had found in the glove compartment on his face, and activated his disguise. As he wordlessly exited the car in a flash of unnatural light, he was now, to any unenhanced eye, the government official Icicle Hoof.

 

As he stood up outside of the vehicle, he took a glance at his watch.

 

9:02 A.M.

 

He closed the car door, and trotted to the enterence of the castle.