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#Post#: 3348--------------------------------------------------
Pleasantries - Royal Gardens
By: Princess Celestia Date: September 28, 2017, 12:13 am
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A step outside sounded nice, a taste of crisp night air and a
walk through the Royal Gardens to view it in it’s after dark
beauty and enjoy the almost otherworldly atmosphere it could
give. Princess Celestia had walked through this area countless
times since the construction of Canterlot Castle yet to this day
it refused to bore her, always managing to be just a little bit
different or show her something new and interesting with every
visit. Even now she was once again amused by just how different
it could appear after the day had shifted to night. It was
beautiful and full of life by day, fountains and a rainbow of
different colored flowers and plants attracting a diverse range
of birds and colorful insects to play amongst the masterfully
trimmed hedges and incredibly lifelike statues. They served as
points of interests at the wayside of multiple paths snaking
their way through the grounds to guide visitors on a relaxing
journey and prevent them from getting more lost than they
intended. But now, after the sun was down and the moon was high?
The daytime flora had closed their pedals to await the sun and
the birds were mostly asleep, but this only made way for the
luminescent nocturnal breeds of flowers to open up and greet the
moon while glowing insects lazily floated around the grounds and
danced around the groups of guests carrying on their
conversations and discussing the different sights to see.
There was even magic at play here, as it was through most of the
castle, as the different shapes cut into the bushes and hedges
as well as the friendlier looking statues of heroes and
historical significance could, should you possess a sharp enough
eye and be paying sufficient attention, occasionally be caught
having shifted their positions ever so slightly when no one was
looking. Originally believed to be a prank played by a former
court mage some several centuries ago, Celestia had found it
amusing enough to not only leave be but cast over new additions
herself to keep up the fun and tonight was already keeping an
eye out to see if any of the guests would catch on.
She had entered the gardens but not engaged anypony quite yet as
she’d wished to simply breathe the night air and watch for a
time. Taking a spot off to the side of the main path leading
into the garden from the doorway before splitting off,
Celestia’s coat and mane stood out quite well against the darker
theme that the current time granted her surroundings. A mare
with a serving platter and several glasses of champagne passed
her as she exited out to the gardens to offer her drinks and
Celestia accepted one with a smile and small nod of thanks. The
alcohol would do little for her, but she enjoyed the taste and
it still helped with her relaxation, Celestia appreciating the
beverage in small sips while watching the stars and smirking
when one pony started giving a hedge in the shape of a small
rhino suspicious looks.
#Post#: 3353--------------------------------------------------
Re: Pleasantries - Royal Gardens
By: PLO Date: September 28, 2017, 10:02 pm
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After the opening ceremony, PLO had immediately fled the throne
room and the insipid ponies who had remained. He has no interest
in acquaintance with most or all of them or their tedious
conversations. He would feel quite at home here in this large,
opulent space designed to impress if not for the crowds of
irrelevant ponies that come with it. He tells himself that,
anyway. But right now, he just wants to be outside.
And he told himself that, too, as he wandered into the garden's
hedge maze, where there would likely be none to bother his
reverie. The gardens in the night had a beauty totally unlike
that in the day, but not entirely dissimilar from what he had at
home. Even so, it all seemed so...tame. In that regard it's
nothing like the woods and gardens of his land, where a certain
primality seemed to infuse every rock, every tree.
While walking through the maze, totally not lost and finding his
way just fine thank you very much, his assessment changed on
just where he thinks he wants to be, and it is not outdoors. Not
in this seemingly endless shrubbery with its winding corridors
and twists and turns, and...did that bush just move? Did that
one? And that statue? He spends a whole five minutes staring
intently at a bear statue without blinking, daring it to move in
his sight. It fails to do so, and he proceeds to [s]look for his
way out[/s] go precisely where he means to go.
Five holes torn out of hedge walls and replaced in such a way
that they hopefully wouldn't be noticed later...
He waves away a mare with a serving platter when he spots
somepony that he might actually be interested in meeting. Not
too far from him stands one of the rulers of this nation, the
one that moves the sun itself. One whose power actually exceeds
the title she carries, a trait not shared among many nobles it
always seems like. It's not an easy job. He'd tried moving it
himself once, and slept for a week after failing to do so. He
didn't even like to think of the word in regards to others, but
she is his...superior. And one must show proper respect to
those. And considering his own nation's interest in obtaining
goodwill with this country, he'd probably be judged derelict in
his duties if he did not as least meet with her.
He strides regally towards her...before becoming suspicious of a
rhino-shaped hedge. It had been in the corner of his eye, and he
could have sworn it moved. Like so many of the others he found
in the maze. But it probably wouldn't move if it knew he was
watching. So, seeming to shrug it off, he continues his stride
towards the princess until he's directly in front of her.
"Princess Celestia," he says in a deep voice, sweeping his cape
and giving a bow, of an appropriate height to give to those one
step above his own station. "Steward of the Sun, Bringer of Day,
and very-" It moved! He whirls around, pointing at it. "Dhat
bush! It mocks me, I svear it!" he shouts with attempts at
masking his accent dropped, drawing laughter from some of the
surrounding ponies.
#Post#: 3373--------------------------------------------------
Re: Pleasantries - Royal Gardens
By: Princess Celestia Date: October 1, 2017, 12:08 pm
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A strategic sip from her glass hid the entertainment crossing
Celestia's face, the way the stallion had acted so proper and
prim in his approach only to have it be abandoned when one of
the trimmed bushes shifted was an example of why this little
prank had been allowed to continue. The castle saw enough
posturing and puffing in its halls day or night, so it was nice
to have a place that threw those kinds of ponies for a loop once
in a while. She glanced over those that laughed and, while some
seemed ignorant to what had set him off and most likely believed
him to simply be buzzed or confused, she could tell that one or
two of them were giving the bushes squinted glares and half
glances themselves as they were trying to catch the magic at
play.
"I've heard for centuries that the gardens and their inhabitants
come off as having a life of their own," Celestia said to try
and reassure the stallion without spoiling the joke, "our
gardeners and the sculptures that poured their time and work
into each statue and every design often revel in the compliments
and take pride in how lifelike the final product can be. I
assure you though that while they may come off as curious that
they truly are harmless. Just marble and leaves. The moon may be
in the sky, but there's little to fear here.
"Your accent. That's Pransylvanian, right?" Continuing from her
moon comment, Celestia thought she recognized both the way the
stallion spoke and the fancy titles he'd used to address her
from her trips to and dealings with the country's diplomats and
delegates. It had been quite some time since she'd visited but
the accent was very distinct and difficult to forget.
#Post#: 3376--------------------------------------------------
Re: Pleasantries - Royal Gardens
By: PLO Date: October 1, 2017, 4:37 pm
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PLO keeps his suspicious eye on the hedge for a moment longer,
not fully buying the explanation. But, he thinks as he takes a
deep breath and adjusts his cape, he'll take her at her word. Or
at least not press the issue. Turning back to her, he
straightens, back to his proud, regal bearing. "Yes, as I vhas-"
He clears his throat and schools his accent away again. "As I
was getting to," he tosses a glare back at the rhino, which
seems to be doing its best to look innocent, "before some-"
-body? -thing? "something interrupted...
"I go by Prince PLO, your Highness." He gives another bow. "How
very fortunate it is that I was able to attend your sister's
ball while I visit your fair land." Normally he would drop in a
note about gracing the country with his presence, but to say
that to Celestia herself...that seems just a weeee bit
hubristic, even for him.
#Post#: 3378--------------------------------------------------
Re: Pleasantries - Royal Gardens
By: Princess Celestia Date: October 1, 2017, 5:32 pm
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"Do you?" Celestia repeated with curiosity over PLO's claim to a
royal title. She hadn't recalled the royal family of
Pransylvania to have such a son and she could have sworn she'd
gone there sometime within the last couple decades at least.
Perhaps not? She really needed to plan another trip so they
didn't get reduced to mere names on letters asking for favors.
"Fortunate indeed. I was not aware we had a prince attending the
Ball. Not outside of my own family at least," Celestia was sure
Blueblood was somewhere around here doing whatever it was he
thought he did during these kinds of events, "Though you will
have to forgive me as I don't recall ever having heard your name
mentioned before when I visited your country. You must have been
away at the time? I was under the impression that Baroque had
three daughters and only one son named Gilt with a nickname of
Frou. That wouldn't be you, would it?"
#Post#: 3395--------------------------------------------------
Re: Pleasantries - Royal Gardens
By: PLO Date: October 5, 2017, 12:11 am
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PLO snorts, then clears his throat in apology. "Please do not
compare me with that gold-obsessed flatback. Prince he may be,
but my magical power far outstrips his, and I have far more
sisters. No, we are not related directly, though go back far
enough and there might be a connection. I do not care to know if
it is true, though. I would prefer not." He grabs a cruller off
of a nearby tray and thanks the serving mare. "And I'm sure you
didn't hear of us when you did visit, but you have not visited
my country."
He takes a small bite out of the cruller, but still clearly
looks like he's going to keep talking. After swallowing, he
continues with, "Speaking of princes and relations, is that
Blueblood...'prince' really related to you? We learned of him as
your nephew, but none of Pransylvania's records go back far
enough to find where his lineage is joined with yours."
#Post#: 3400--------------------------------------------------
Re: Pleasantries - Royal Gardens
By: Princess Celestia Date: October 6, 2017, 8:02 pm
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Celestia wasn't impressed by this stallion's boasting when it
came to his self-proclaimed magical superiority over the prince
of what was apparently not his home despite his accent. The
utter lack of any shift in her expression or demeanor may have
clued one in on this as she worried this may end up being yet
another instance of somepony just showing themselves off. When
presented with a question, Celestia decided to fall back on a
simple answer compared to the much more complex one she'd need
far too long to explain.
"That's a surprisingly common question I get from those that
meet him," a short chuckle to mask an internal rolling of her
eyes towards the real reason most ask, "Trust me when I say that
it's much easier to think of him as a great nephew of mine."
Speaking in familial relation only of course as his personality
would suggest the opposite. Celestia was finding it odd that
this pony would speak of Pransylvanian records and was curious
to clarify.
"You reference these records but say I've never been to your
country. Does this mean I'd be right in assuming that, while you
adopted the accent, you are in fact from a close neighbor of
Pransylvania?" Pransylvanian cadence, claims to be of royalty
and may or may not be distantly related to Baroque and his
family. Celestia attempted to recall the ruling families of the
surrounding territories but not much was coming to mind that fit
what she was being told.
#Post#: 3402--------------------------------------------------
Re: Pleasantries - Royal Gardens
By: PLO Date: October 7, 2017, 8:03 pm
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This cruller is good. Beyond the pastries available to him at
home. He finishes that one off and grabs another one from across
the yard where the serving mare is now. He wipes some crumbs off
his lips with his hoof before answering. "Close, celestial
highness. I do not reside in Pransylvania, but I did come by my
accent honestly. I am now prince of a small kingdom that was
founded along the northern border of my former country. You did
not visit it because dhe- the last time you were in the region
it did not exist." He sniffs. "Perhaps one day it may be worthy
of being graced with your stellar visage, but I'm sure it would
be beneath your notice as it currently stands."
#Post#: 3482--------------------------------------------------
Re: Pleasantries - Royal Gardens
By: Princess Celestia Date: January 7, 2018, 9:09 pm
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"Interesting. New countries don't spring up every day and news
often travels quickly when they do," had her sister heard? Maybe
some members of the court? There had been no news of a major
conflict or war so it must have been secession or expulsion.
Unusual still as the lead up should have set of some alarms
among the diplomats charged with keeping an eye on that area.
Instability within an allied nation can often times be a recipe
for disaster or further turmoil and is an obvious red flag that
would demand at least a look. With the troubles that so often
plague Equestria, a sudden civil war in a neighbor would be an
unwelcome burden to share and a distraction Celestia would
rather do without. Luna would have mentioned this, so this must
have been very recent.
Of course, this could also all be some story he's making up to
mess with her. Events like these often attracted all types
despite the guards at the door, and with no real restriction on
who was allowed to attend this time around it would do well to
assume that more than a few trouble makers may have infiltrated
the crowd. Convincing a Princess of a phantom country's sudden
existence would be decent for a laugh though, Celestia could
admit.
"Now that i'm aware of this I will definitely be looking into
it," she promised after another sip of her drink, "If your
country is so young, I imagine your traditions and culture are
still very similar to Pransylvania's so I would have a place to
start with my preparations. Oh, forgive me, but I realize that I
haven't even asked you the name of your new home yet."
#Post#: 3484--------------------------------------------------
Re: Pleasantries - Royal Gardens
By: Grace Date: January 7, 2018, 9:39 pm
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"PLOTSYLVANIA," Grace would take the initiative to contribute,
stepping up to the two with her own glass of champagne
levitating beside her, "spelled in all capitol letters with an
enthusiastic spirit of fresh independence too, or at least
that's how it was the last time I saw it down on paper. Maybe
that will actually stick too once it's recognized," she
continued, giving Plo a wink and smile, "I apologize for
entering into your conversation like this, Princess, but I
couldn't help overhearing that this was such news for you and
that I had an opportunity to both help clarify and meet what is
possibly going to be new royalty in the coming years. I hope you
don't mind?
"You're the youngest of the new line ruling those parts, yes?
PLOTYNSTERN's son. I am Grace," introducing herself with a small
bow that was pleasant but not nearly as court worthy as the one
she'd given her Princess, Grace wore a charming smile that went
well with the effort she'd put into her dress and mane, "Grace
Délicatesse, acting Regional Manager of Exotiquestrian Affairs
for Fae Exotique and it's subsidiaries. It truly is a pleasure
to make the acquaintance of one with such potential
materializing back home. Not everyone gets a chance to birth a
nation and those that do have hardly the opportunity to rule
before the neighbors come knocking. How's the progress on the
former going?" She sounded genuinely interested, but one
practiced and capable of digging past the sugar coating could
detect the tone underlying half of what she was saying.
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