Vive Vapeur

-Prima-

-Vive Vapeur-

Twas a beautiful night in The Kingdom of Equestria, everything perfect and in balance. A cool breeze flowed through Princess Celestia's mane, adding to the already magically induced waving. Standing atop the balcony of Canterlot Castle, the princess enjoyed her sister's magnificent night, her glorious moon looming over the land. Together, they had ruled Equestria for thousands of years, upholding the fundamental laws of Harmony with little plight. After liberating the kingdom from the grasp of Discord, any mishaps have been snuffed out with the help of her faithful student, and friends. The Princess gazed downwards at her kingdom below. Downtown Canterlot could be seen, the streets illuminated by candles and lanterns flickering in the night. So peaceful Celestia thought to herself. Once finished admiring the spectacle, Princess Celestia returned to her royal bed and drifted away to peaceful slumber.

Twas the night before Hearth's Warming Eve, and all thought the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a- "SPIKE!"

"Aah! What!? Who!? Where!?" Exclaimed Spike as he hopped to a semi-defensive/semi-sleeping stance, abruptly woken by Twilight.

"Spike, get up! We're leaving." Twilight ordered, dropping two suitcases next to the dragon and trotting out. Spike looked at the luggage and then around the room.

"Wha we going?" Spike struggled to pronounce with partially functional brain power. He was still delirious, occasionally slipping into dream world then back to reality. Eventually, the dragon mustered up enough strength to stand up and stumble down the stairs.

What time is it? Ran though his mind, rubbing his eyes. He didn't care, all he comprehended was immeasurable drowsiness. Reaching the final steps, Spike struggled to lift his eyelids. He gained a glimpse of Twilight speaking with an unfamiliar black stallion with silver mane, but his vision was blurry and short lived. Spike could also make out Rainbow Dash and Rarity next to each other, accompanying them were Pinkie Pie, who was bouncing, Applejack, who looked very sleepy, and Fluttershy, standing quietly in the back. As Spike struggled down the staircase, Rarity noticed him and trotted over. She said something but Spike's hearing was as poor as his vision. Spike tried to respond, instead he mumbled something and passed out in Rarity's hooves.

"Mares and gentlecolts, I present to you, a device which will change the face of Equestrian society forever." Proclaimed the charismatic voice of a stallion with gray-blue coat, blond mane, and tail to match. He was wearing a suite and tie with flared collar which eloquently matched his entrepreneurial character. He was standing on a circular stage before a massive crowd. Next to him was a tarp covering some odd contraption. The setting is Central Park, Manehattan, where this inventor is about to reveal his greatest invention to an eager audience of one hundred and seventy three ponies. His name, Veil Noblecolt. "Feast your eyes upon..." He grabbed the tarp. "The Noblecolt Magical Aura Emulator!" With a quick tug the device was revealed. A five foot copper machine with gears and springs enclosing violet crystal at its core. At the ends of this crystal were iron rods, it was surrounded by six circular wires all leading to a separate device, an abstract swivel cannon with several thick black wires flowing from the back and into the heart of the machine. The crowd applauded. Additional spectators joined, curious of the commotion.

"What does it do?" Asked a nearby mare.

"I'm glad you asked m'lady! This device can create immensely powerful magic at the flip of a switch. Its power rivals that of the royal princesses themselves, let me demonstrate." With a dirty sounding Crank Veil pulled a lever on the machine. For a moment nothing happened, then, a noise escalated as gears began to turn and the crystal rotated between the coils. It sounded as if an entire factory were crammed into one single machine. A dark aura was generated around the central crystal. This pure magical power then traveled through wires and focused into the magic cannon. Energy built up inside the cannon's core, growing brighter by the second. Veil aimed the swivel at a nearby tree. He pressed a button on the handle, causing a beam of red aura to burst out towards the tree, spanning the twenty three meter distance almost instantaneously. The tree, now with full attention of the audience, began to levitate. Veil pushed another button and the tree was transformed into a large candy-cane. The crowd went wild. "But that's not all folks! This thing can do much more! Everyone, prepare yourselves." yet another lever was switched and the beam of magic shot skyward, penetrating the clouds. Then, the sky became darker and the sun fell below the horizon, Veil's machine had brought about night with ease. The conglomeration of pony stood in shock for a moment. They were all told that only royal princesses could possess such magical power, which was the reason for their royalty. If any pony with some fancy machine could produce the same result, why were they treated as gods?

The crowds internal question was interrupted by sirens. Moments later, aerial guards swarmed the park. A troop of royal police pegasi landed around Veil and his machine. "Halt!" snapped one of them. Before able to react, he was bucked away from the controls. As the N.M.A.E was powered down, the obvious leader of this strike team trotted over to the inventor. "Sir, you are under arrest for disruption of harmony." he told Veil, as they hoofcuffed him.

"This is madness! My invention can change the world!" Veil cried as he was being dragged.

"Not a world ruled by Princess Celestia." a police pony replied. "This is nothing more than discordance." Veil was thrown into the back of a cage chariot and taken away.

The Manehattan Times

____________________________________

Manufacturable Magic!

Yesterday, a stallion by the name of Veil Noblecolt made a public display of a device which harnesses the magical power to perform acts previously exclusive to Celestia and Luna. After using his device, which he called: "The Noblecolt Magical Aura Emulator" to bring about night, he was quickly arrested. Noblecolt is currently being held at the Canterlot Maximum Security Prison. Officials are......

-EQUESTRIA DAILY-

Can The Royal Sisters Be Matched?

Apparently they can be. Yesterday in Manehattan, a demonstration of the N.M.A.E (Noblecolt Magical Aura Emulator) attracted a massive crowd in Central Park. Veil Noblecolt, the inventor, was arrested after he used the N.M.A.E to change educe night without consent of the royal sisters. Some suspect....

"...attempting to inflict discord..."

"...said to be utilizing an unknown element..."

"...What else could that device do?..."

"...Manehattan growing more industrial...", "...money and power..."

"What's next?"

Spike opened his eyes. His first sight was a bookshelf several feet from him. Anatomy of Fish stared back at him from the spine of a book.

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