Just IMAGINE the possibilities... (Open, recruitment thread!)

[Blueblood]

The thrumming presses of Equestria are ever-hungry for news. It's hunted by reporters, seasoned to perfection by editors, and masticated and regurgitated into great gray broadsheets which are subsequently expectorated onto everypony's front porch at the rising of the sun. Naturally, the very instant word got back to the great metropolises of our fair country, the special editions were flying off the Press with the lurid headlines:

Crystal Faire Caribou Calamity!
Return and Revenge of King Sombra!
Tragedy and Triumph in the North!

Yes, it is the story of the year, and coming on the heels of the return of multiple legendary evils, multiple invasions by hostile shapeshifters, and multiple other things that no sensible citizen wanted the adjective 'multiple' attached to, a pony might be forgiven for crying out, "Can't we have some good news for once!?"

Well, worry not, good citizen, it is coming! In fact, it is here: IMAGINE! A way to fight evil, without having to pick up a weapon. IMAGINE! Blocking the efforts of spies and sneaks to exploit the hungry and the desperate. IMAGINE! The Elements of Harmony usable by everypony, to fight back the darkness from our world.

You can do more, dear ponies. You can join today....

​
~***~

Such was the wording and general gist of about 250,000 flyers, posters, and newspaper advertisements covering Equestria from Seaddle to Dodge Junction. Prince Blueblood, reading them over in the foyer of Blueblood, felt they style to be a little vulgar, but he had to admit it was better stuff than he'd be able to write himself. This new secretary was the right sort, he supposed.

Really, right now he just wanted this whole thing to not be a colossal failure and embarrassment. He'd been present at the actual Viking invasion itself and... had not exactly made a good showing as a fighter. His later attempt, following the arrival of more friendly representatives of caribou kind, to engage in high-level diplomacy had also met with something less than success. Never before in his life had the unicorn Prince been so sharply confronted with his limitations.

About the only thing he had going for him right now was a social pull in high levels of society, a large amount of money, and a belated but genuine desire to do something. Hence, the International Mutual Aid and Improvement of National Economies project. Founded and funded by himself and other like-minded members, it was meant to use the goodwill and resources of ponies to overcome barriers of communication and eliminate the causes of conflict, using skills and ponies that would not be found in the Royal Guard, REIN, or EPIC.


Of course, first they had to have ponies actually join. They'd been told to either apply in person or in writing to Blueblood Manor, starting today. That might have turned some ponies off, though Blueblood would be loath to admit it. He was actually beginning to pace anxiously, worrying that once again, he'd set himself up for a public failure...

[Elderflower]

Frostlace stood outside the door of Blueblood manor and let out a small sigh. She had come to Canterlot for a grim purpose, specifically to take the stand as a witness in the defensee of one Flash Sentry’s innocence during Sombra’s assault on the Crystal Empire. After the attack had happened the mare was feeling somewhat adrift and shaken; she had heard of many of the tragedies that had happened in recent times, but never had she been exposed to them. Seeing such malice and cruelty forcing innocent ponies to their knees had sparked a rage and indignation so furious that she felt almost paralyzed by it. Every day she wondered at what she could do to make a difference. She could help in a fight, yes, but violence was a last resort. She wanted to help others, not harm those she would see as enemies. Leave that for the military types.

Imagine the noblemare’s surprise, then, to discover the one pony to stand up for something better than tragedy and hurt was...Blueblood. Prince Blueblood. That rotten, arrogant, pompous, useless ninny. Frost had never held a high opinion of the stallion, though admittedly she had never met him personally. She had been raised by her dedushka, her grandfather, who came from the working-class district of Stalliongrad. As such, she identified more with common folk than the noble or the wealthy, and she found overly-indulged ponies like Blueblood to be absolutely insufferable. That said, she was always an amiable mare full of grace and polite, gentle manners when dealing with these types. She had to behave at least somewhat appropriately for a mare of her status. In any case, the Prince had not once in his life done anything to redeem himself in her eyes, to rise from the ashes of his numerous failures. Until recently.

Another sigh and Frostlace knocked. Shortly enough a clean and well-spoken stallion opened the doors to her and led her through the luxurious Blueblood manner until she was standing before the unicorn Prince. The mare had decided to keep her appearance casual today. This was, after all, a meeting of comrades who wished to work towards a common good - not a meeting of nobleponies and royals. Her long, white-and-gold mane and tail had both been loosely braided, and a neat chain of rose gold hung around her neck, a raw ametrine crystal hanging delicately from it.

“Zdravstvuyte, Prince Blueblood,” the master of the Hoar Witch Estates greeted politely in her thick Stallian accent, “It is good to seeing you again.”

The mare tilted her head to the side then, offering the stallion a warm smile. Shockingly enough, her words and smile were perfectly genuine, not a hint of irony or sarcasm to be found in them. For all Blueblood’s reputation as a spoiled brat, he was doing real good with IMAGINE, and she would always give credit where credit is due.

“I take it no volunteers have showing up yet? Then let me take moment to be saying one thing. You are doing admirable works, my Prince. Your reputation does not doing you justices. You are good stallion where it counts.”

To make her message clear, Frost moved her pristine, white hoof to gently brush against the Prince’s chest where his heart rested.

[Blueblood]

"Lady Frostlace has arrived, sir.  Would you like me to fetch the tea?"

 

Prince Blueblood blinked, slowly returning to the present as his new private secretary announced the arrival of at least one pony who was going along with his idea.  Two, if you counted Psmith the secretary.  In actuality, the Prince didn't really remember hiring the young lavender unicorn to help get his idea off the ground; the fellow had just showed up one day with half the legal paperwork already done.  Well, Blueblood wasn't about to look a literal gift pony in the mouth, so there he was.

 

"Ah, yes, thank you.  Unless her ladyship would prefer something stronger?"  Although the two of them were in the same class, they were rarely in the same room; the first time they had actually met face-to-face had been at the party thrown by that ballerina at the Empire, after the whole invasion... From what he recalled, Frostlace didn't seem like the tea-drinking type.  Of course, the Prince was completely smashed at the time himself, so his recollections were vague, to say the least.

 

*'Good to see me,' eh?  You haven't met me sober yet.*  It was somewhat disturbing to him that the best impression he'd left on a mare in years had been when he was not fully in control of his actions.  He wished he could remember; it had been a long time since anypony had smiled at him like that.

Almost instinctively, the stallion shied away from the mare's touch, catching himself in embarrassment.  Blueblood wasn't much used to physical contact in general; few ponies dared to touch him. "Uh, right, er, no, nopony but you's shown up yet."  Faust, he was hopeless at this.  But, he'd committed himself to the point that he'd look an even greater fool if he quit.  Better to be known as a well-intentioned idiot than a feckless waste of space.  "Er, did you see the brochures we sent out?  I wasn't quite sure about them myself; I think they may have come across as too sensational."

[Elderflower]

It took quite a bit of effort for Frost to resist the urge to wrinkle her nose at the mention of tea. It wasn’t that she disliked the stuff - not at all! She just...preferred whiskey. Or vodka. Or stout, or...oh! How lucky! Before she had the chance to respond, Blueblood had come to her rescue with an offer of something stronger. Frostlace beamed and touched a thoughtful white hoof to her chin before making her decision. When she placed her hoof back down she tossed a playful wink towards the prince in her typical flirtatious manner. Something about seeing a stallion as drunk and foolish as she had seen the prince made it very easy for her to forget about noble airs. She found it fascinating, though, that he would pull away from her touch. Ah well, there was a first for everything - not all stallions would fall for her charms instantly. Most, but not all.

“My hero,” she purred before facing the lavender unicorn and continuing with, “Stronger is better, da. Could I troubling you for whiskey? Perhaps with splash of coffee?”

When he withdrew from the room Frostlace returned her attention to Blueblood, her ears flicking while he spoke. Was she hearing him correctly? Did he sound...awkward? He seemed so very unsure of himself that it was throwing the mare off! It was rather unexpected, after all. She would ignore it for now though - if it persisted, well, she would have to decide whether or not she wanted to have fun with that awkwardness or behave like a proper Countess. Decisions, decisions!

For now, though, she would remain all business.

“Nopony else?” she echoed, batting her eyelashes with a wicked little grin. All business indeed... “We are all alone then, blagoobraznyy?”

With a little chime of laughter to assure Blueblood she was only teasing, Frostlace produced and unfolded one of the brochures she had picked up earlier. “I did seeing these, yes, and do not worry, highness. Sensation is good - grabs attention, gets ponies to asking questions. If brochure was too soft and fluffy and modest then it would be overlooked easy-ly.”

The white mare assumed a strong stance then, grounding herself and raising a triumphant hoof in the air. “The elements of harmony useable by everypony!” she fiercely proclaimed, “Fight back the darkness from our world!”

Laughing once more, she fell back into a more relaxed stance and smiled encouragingly. “Is strong message. Makes pony feel strong. Feel powerful! Makes helpless feel like heroes. No no - makes ponies who thinking they are helpless see they can be heroes. Is wonderful to helping ponies see they are capable of great things!”

[Solaria]

Blueblood Manor somehow looked even larger from the air, if that was even possible. The aerial perspective allowed a lone visitor to raise a slight eyebrow at the splendor for the few moments it held her attention, then the front lawn filled her vision as the breeze spilled from her angled wings. Two moments and a swift whistle of wind later, Solace of the Sunsworn raised her head to behold the residence at ground level. Still amazingly sprawling. With a small roll of her shoulders, the pegasus strode confidently to the front entry.

 

Though her common trappings and gear were absent from her today, the captain still moved with an ingrained purpose and surety. Chin held high. White pinions subconsciously rearranging themselves to settle neatly against her wings after the flight. Mane pulled behind her ears in a relaxed yet confined wave golden tresses. In short, though she wore nothing but the simple brown satchel slung over her back, Solace still very much looked the part of the leader of a group dedicated heart and mind to the protection of Equestria and its interests.

 

One firm rap of a hoof against the door, and she waited. In no time at all a dapper servant opened the monolithic wooden portal, ushering her inside with the usual pleasantries one might expect from a pony of his ilk. Solace nodded politely and introduced herself as they walked, though she fell unresponsive to any further inquiries about her trip, the weather, and how frightful the attack on the Crystal Kingdom had been. She merely provided a simple "My heart goes out to those involved in the tragedy," in her quiet voice, and the rest of the admittedly lengthy walk through the various rooms and halls was spent in silence.

 

Before long she was admitted to a study near the rear of the manor, in which stood a rather impressive mare and none other than their illustrious host, Prince Blueblood himself. A moment of recollection, and the pegasus realized that she knew the other visitor as well: Frostlace of Hoar Witch Estates. Not that she knew the noblepony personally, but it boded well to know of those with influence in the various regions of Equestria.

 

As they seemed to be involved in a conversation, Solace satisfied herself with standing a short distance away and inclining her muzzle in greeting. She was in no hurry, she knew that Blueblood would reveal more than the flyers had when he was ready. And if he didn't, the mare captain would simply leave. She had no time for the flighty fantasies of the rich and famous, but would be more than ready to commit herself to the cause should unicorn prince's promises prove genuine.

 

Thus she waited patiently.

[Blueblood]

Either Psmith was made of sterner stuff than his employer, or he was simply more easily amused than flustered.  In any case, he took Frostlace's new order in stride.  "Certainly, my lady.  I shall inform the resident alchemist, and we shall fulfill it post-haste."  And with a bow, the secretary departed, though the Prince was disturbed to catch a glint of humor behind his servant's eyeglass.

 

*Do I actually have a resident alchemist?*  Between all his society appointments, frequent sailing trips, and lodgings at the palace, Blueblood had a surprisingly scant amount of knowledge about what went on under his own roof half the time.  Heck, there were whole rooms and corridors he'd never been in since early foalhood; the maids could be running a casino in here for all he knew!

 

However, that was only a baseline worry.  The more immediate issue before the alabaster unicorn stallion was the alabaster unicorn mare in front of him, and her behavior!  It was, for a variety of reasons, pretty rare for him to be alone with a mare actively flirting with him; and whenever it happened, it rarely ended well.  The mare either turned out to be a gold-digger, or else he would assume she was, and- well, that turned out even worse.  

Hence, when Frostlace laughed, he joined in with a kind of desperate hope that this was all a joke.

"Haha, yes quite.  That's why I did ultimately sign off on them, but I don't know if it will bring in recruits-"

 

And then another servant announced the arrival of a newcomer, this time a pegasus.  From the look of her, Blueblood could only assume she was here to join IMAGINE.  Immediately, all insecurity seemed to roll off of him.  How could he ever have doubted, when clearly capable ponies were obviously eager to give their efforts to this initiative?

Standing up straight, and giving an acknowledging nod that his mother had drilled him for six months long ago to get exactly right, the Prince greeted Solace, "Ah, welcome.  If I may have your name, and, if it is not too much to assume, your intention as regards IMAGINE?"

 

As he spoke, from a distant wing of the manner could be heard a distant THOOM, and an odd smell of coffee grounds and grain alcohol began to fill the air.  Apparently, the Prince did have a resident alchemist...

[Elderflower]

Frostlace was starting to get the impression that the Prince was a little afraid of her. Her playful flirting was making him almost painfully awkward and good sense was telling her to buck up and act like a responsible noblemare at once. Her love of mischief, however, was driving her to want to keep pushing his buttons. He was just such a...a dunderhead! At least, that’s the impression she had gotten up until this point. His heart was in the right place, but he was a total dunderhead nonetheless. In any other situation she would be happy to continue flirting until he ran away, blushed himself into fainting, or realized that she was only having fun with him. But Blueblood was a prince, after all…even if he was a drunken, dunderhead Prince.

The pale mare was rescued from her decision-making when another server entered the room and announced the arrival of yet another pony. Good! The first official (potential) member outside of the financers! And my, but it was a lovely mare who had entered the room. In stark contrast to Blueblood’s formal greeting, Frostlace smiled widely and warmly to the winged mare.

“Privet, friend,” she purred, eyes sparkling, “It is good to seeing a new face here! I am positives you know our Prince Blueblood, but my name is Frostlace. I, too, am one of IMAGINE’s foun-”

The Countess was cut off midsentence by a loud noise elsewhere in the manor. Her eyes widened in surprise, but soon enough she could smell the divine aroma of coffee and whiskey. She doubted it could compare to anything coming from a Hoar Witch distillery, but her bias wouldn’t stop her from delighting in the scent. She could not wait to put this alchemist of Blueblood’s to the test and taste that drink.

“Ideal'nyy, perfect,” she sighed happily, “I am impressed, Prince Blueblood.”

[Solaria]

The expected greetings came. Solace could tell from their body languages just how they might react to her entrance, and some small part of her was pleased to see that she wasn't wrong. Blueblood, born and raised as royalty and taught from a young age how to bow and nod just so. As his welcome was formal, so was the captain's response: she gave a smooth dip of her head in return. Her visage was calm, yet polite. Her eyes never left his during the gesture.

 

She of Hoar Witch had been a bit more of a guess on Solace's part, but she had come close. Warm and friendly, one of the finer traits of the Stalliongrad upper class. The amicability didn't completely dispel the pegasus's impassive deposition, but an answering smile did come to the mare's muzzle.

 

"I thank you both for the kind welcome," the captain responded after a moment. "I am Solace of the Sunsworn, and it is a pleasure to make your acquaintances."

 

Her penetrating gaze slid over to the unicorn prince.

 

"As to my presence here, I read your leaflet. To be honest, I was impressed. Your stated goals have much in common with the ideals that drive the Sunsworn, and I should hope..."

 

BOOM.

 

A muffled explosion seemed to rattled the rafters, cascading tiny bits of stone and dust from the ceiling. Instantly Solace was on alert, and while outwardly she barely shifted weight from one hoof to another, it was though someone had touched a live current to her body. She only remained in that state for a few moments, only relaxing when she saw her companions didn't seem the slightest bit troubled. Apparently occasional wafts of something that smelled like paint thinner mixed with breakfast were a common occurrence in Blueblood Manor. The pegasus straightened.

 

"That we find our mutual interests align," she finished curtly. "I apologize, I seem to have interrupted something?"

[Blueblood]

Most impartial observers would agree "dunderhead" was quite a fair description of the Prince.  Still, one had to admit, the past few years had made at least one significant difference in Blueblood's character; he'd gone from an insenstitive, snobbish, dunderhead to a well-intentioned and at least slightly sympathetic one.  At any rate, Frostlace would have probably gotten a lot less fun out of teasing the Blueblood who made a foal of himself at that infamous Grand Galloping Gala several years ago...

 

And now, here was His Highness, welcoming the first recruit into an organization he helped found to make the world a better, more peaceful place.  Time changes things, but rarely baseline intelligence.  Blueblood blinked in slight bewilderment at Solace as she addressed him, "Sun... sworn?  Is that some sort of club?"  A fan-club for his aunt, possibly.

 

It was at that point that the alchemist worked his magic, as it were.  The sound of the explosion, and the feel of it through his hooves, acted as a kind of trigger for the somewhat traumatized Prince; he leaped up into the air with a high-pitched whinny and dove for shelter behind a settee, peering out nervously to confront-

 

His secretary, entering the room with Frostlace's drink.  The edges of the lavender unicorn's mane were scorched, and his monocle was slightly smoke-blackened, but his expression still bore the same impassive smile as he handed over the whiskey and coffee.  Having done so, he turned to Solace with a raised eyebrow.  "And can we get you anything?  The shed is still standing, and the alchemist would like some opportunity to redeem his reputation in this field."

 

"And just who is this alchemist!?"  Blueblood emerged from behind his furniture in an irate mood, not caring what sort of impression he was giving of how ill he managed his household.  "We're not here to increase the number of destructive explosions in the world!  Quite the opposite!  Bring him to me!"

 

With an almost theatrical solemnity, Psmith the secretary brought out an old-fashioned floppy cap, the sort worn by wizard's assistants back in the days of Starswirl the Bearded, and put it on.  "Speaking.  I shall keep you orders in regards to explosions in mind."

 

The Prince stood aback, blinked in bafflement for a few seconds, opened his mouth to speak, but seemed to hesitate, before just saying, "Right.  Jolly good, carry on."  After a certain point, it was just not worth the effort for him to figure out what was going on.

[Elderflower]

Frost’s expression brightened once Solace had introduced herself. The Captain of the Sunsworn would be a precious ally to this cause, indeed. Mentally, she gave herself a little kick for not recognizing the mare earlier. Frost’s knowledge of the Equestrian upper crust was severely limited outside the Stalliongrad families, something she had her less-than-noble personality to thank. After a small sip of her coffee and whiskey she opened her mouth to speak, only to have Blueblood beat her to it. But...wait, what? He didn’t know of the Sunsworn? It took a great show of will for her to avoid rolling her eyes.

“It is great honour for having you here today, Solace,” the  Stallian mare said courteously, more of the Countess showing when she spoke this time. A quick change in tone and posture had transformed her from a flirtatious Stallian mare to somepony much more noble - it didn’t last terribly long, however. She couldn’t stop herself from offering the Sunsworn a little wink and a nod in Blueblood’s direction (the Prince was currently engaged with the lavender unicorn who had brought Frost’s delightful drink).

“I will leaving his education regarding Sunsworn to you, I think,” she added, taking another bittersweet sip of her drink, “But I agree. I believe our goals to be very similarity, and if we work as team to improving trade and relationships with Whitescar then I hope we bring Equestria a bit of peace for change. Might you have questions about cause?”