The Best Night Ever (Private with The_Pariah)

Ician whistled. "You look wonderful, Divine. But..." He turned to Plant. "The diplomat is here now?"

"Yes, now!" Plant said anxiously. "Do you see?"

"Yes." He murmured. "We have to get this protest off the streets somehow. It would be a thoroughly embarrassing diplomatic sign to show our guests, not to mention it would create an image of Equestrian instability." He sighed. "Did you try to get the Air Force?"

"They can't commit." Plant continued. "Much of the Force is handling anti-piracy in the North with the Navy."

"Hm." Ician looked out over the scene thoughtfully.

"Thank you Ician. If I may suggest something? What precisely are they upset about?"

"They don't want their belongings to be searched for weapons and the like. Freedom and privacy of the individual." Ician gestured out over the field. "Admittedly, this is kind of my fault."

"It was mine too." Plant said apologetically.

"Mostly mine." Ician said.

"I see." She turned, and trotted towards the group, her silver heels clicking. "Excuse me, but who is the leader of this protest?"

"We don't have a leader!" One of them shouted from the midst. "We are led by freedom itself!"

There was a wave of approval that rippled across the group.

Ician sighed. "Typical."

"I see, well, then I speak to all of you. I understand that you feel your freedom has been breached, but, we do this for your freedom. You see, for this little hassle, you need not worry that you will be attacked by ponies weilding swords or crossbows."

"It's still an infringement on the rights of the individual!" The same pony roared. "And we can defend ourselves well enough against those madponies, thank you very much!"

"Surely though, you must understand? There is no real infrigement. All that is required is to prove you mean nopony no harm. As for protecting yourself... Do you know who I am? I am quite skilled as a swordpony, but even I can fall to numbers. With this law passed, you need not worry about these groups."

The pony opened his mouth to protest further, but the military line parted and Ician stepped through.

"I understand that you are all upset." He said. "And not without good reason, either. On behalf of the Royal Court, I apologise for our hasty actions without first consulting the will of the ponies. I urge you to return to your homes and wait; I guarantee that this law will be more carefully looked at in a few days' time to seek a middle ground that will achieve both its aims of internal security and freedom of the individual."

"But—" The pony began.

"And," Ician continued relentlessly, "and, we will put the legislative draft forward for the public to comment upon in the Canterlot city square. I assure you that the Court will not ignore your opinions."

The group of protestors now milled about, unsure of what to do next.

"Please?" Divine asked simply. "I promise as well that this new law will be reviewed."

"Well..." The central pony began uncertainly. "I suppose that we could maybe—"

Then a shout came from the back of the line. "Run! Changelings!"

Ician facehooved. "Oh come on, this is not the time... please tell me..."

"Sorry." Plant gazed out over the protestors, to the changeling diplomat dressed in formal sickly-green robes and escorted by an honour guard of twenty infantry. "It looks like our gate guards ran out of excuses to keep them out."

Platinum groaned and stamped a hoof. "Everypony calm down!" His amplified voice echoes around the area. "These changelings are peaceful. They are here on my request. And I, am Paladin Amor, Princess Celestia's Personal Guard."

"Liar!" The main protest pony shouted, jabbing his hoof at Paladin in an accusatory gesture. "Traitor! They'll kill us all!"

The protest began anew, the surging lines of the protestors now pushing against the front line of the Guard.

"On the plus side." Ician ground out, "at least we have an excuse for the instability now."

"But not very good as a starting ground for negotiations." Plant pointed out.

Ician sighed. "I know, I know."

"ENOUGH!" Platinum's voice shocked the croud into silence. "There is nothing to fear. I am not a traitor. Think about this logically. There are twenty odd of them. What could they possibly hope to achieve if they were here to attack?"

"Reinforcements—"

"There are no reinforcements." Ician snapped. "We would know. We command a mountainous position, overlooking all avenues of approach to the city."

"That didn't stop them from invading last time!"

"This. Is. Not. Last time." Ician growled. "We are better than that now. Go home, all of you. I guarantee, one hundred percent, that we will not be invaded."

"Please, go home to your families. There will be no invasion."

Reluctantly, the ponies began to pull away, many of them shooting mistrustful glares at the Guards as they moved away. The changeling diplomat advanced towards them, flanked closely by the honour guard.

"I do apologise for the ruckus. You already know my name, perhaps you will honour me with yours?"

"This is not the best of grounds for a negotiation, I do hope you understand." The changeling diplomat said coolly. "I am Commander Exos, acting under orders for diplomacy. I have come on behalf of her Royal Highness Queen Chrysalis of the Changeling Hive."

"I am Lord Ician, primary advisor of the military." Ician bowed. "Canterlot welcomes you." He gestured to the others in turn. "Lady Plant, primary advisor to the Equestrian Intelligence Bureau; Miss Retribution, Canterlot Judge; and Officer Paladin, of the Royal Guard and personal guard to her Royal Highness Princess Celestia of the Equestrian Empire."

[Calling it a night. Sorry buddy]

((No prob. See you!))

Both Platinum and Divine bowed deeply.

"Very well." The changeling diplomat cocked his head. "I understand you have a function of sorts tonight. The... Gala?"

"Oh, yes." Ician gestured to the door. "You are still slightly early. Nonetheless, you are fully welcome to enjoy the night before tomorrow's negotiations."

"I accept your offer." The diplomat replied. "Come, let us go." The changelings troop into the ballroom, Ician following suit, but the line of the Guard remained intact outside the Gala.

[I have returned... Because sleep is overrated] Platinum spun, trotting back to the spare room. Divine followed Ician.

Vision followed Platinum back to the spare room, where Celestia and Insight were waiting.

---

Ician followed after the diplomat, rubbing his head. "Ooh, I feel a headache coming on... I need some sleep later."

Plant, following him, remarked, "Sleep is overrated."

((We all agree on this score.))