appleacj loves me

Location: Port Seawind --> Seaddle

Twilight wants to inspect how Rarity is doing. Last she heard, Rarity had moved into the gemstones industry. Forming a company called, Opalescence, named after her cat.

"Have you lately thought about how generous you've been, Rarity?"

Rarity stopped dead in her tracks, not necessarily offended but more shocked by Twilight's assumptions. "Twilie, dear. I cannot believe that you think I've been ungenerous or selfish lately. As a matter of fact, my products are the cheapest across all over Equestria." Twilight then saw Rarity using her magic to bring forth a whole gemstone from one of the carts along the walkway. "This bedazzling gemstone of this size would sell for 10,000 pieces, at the very least. Opalescence would charge one tenth of that price, Twilight."

Twilight was not impressed by the gem, even as Rarity was rotating it to show off the natural curves. Instead, Twilight glared at Rarity, flabbergasted at how oblivious Rarity was of her surroundings. "Rarity..." she began, in a disgruntled tone, "what I mean was that you haven't been that fair to

"I do suppose I haven't been living up to my title," she admitted, looking away from Twilight because of guilt.

The ballroom was grand in scale. In fact, it resembled the Grand hall in Canterlot in terms of size and structural design, but with its own ethnic aesthetic to it. The white color tone was replaced with a yellow-ish/brown-ish one and the use of bamboo as pillars and other structures gave the ball a very native and natural feeling.

"Ugghh" Rainbow Dash groaned.

"What's wrong Rainbow Dash?" Twilight asked. She tended to turn her head back when adressing to another pony while walking forwards, something that might prove difficult in a ballroom.

Zebras, Cheetahs, antelopes, and including ponies were all present in the ballroom. Most the two saw seemed to be from a wealthier class, suggested by their upper class clothing one would see the more affluent parts of Canterlot. The rest seemed like officers or from some Military rank, judging by their medals, ribbons, and other decorations.

"Ahhh, another one of General Razak's uninspired strategies: Send out more patrols," someone said in the crowd.

"Who said that?" Rainbow Dash asked, wondering who behind them in the crowd made that stament.

General Razak let out a sigh, "Colonel Ziro," he answered indifferently.

"Please, General Razak, I prefer Battlemaster Ziro." he replied complacently. "Military ranks used by you ponies," he then turned his attention to Razak, "and unfortunately by these non-natives, are mere titles usually not gained through valor, skill or even through combat experience."

"Um, what's the difference between Colonel and Battlemaster, if I may ask?" Twilight asked.

"A Colonel and all those other 'universal' military ranks can be gained without ever setting foot in combat. A Battlemaster is someone who has earned his title on the battlefield, fighting alongside his brothers and sisters. And besides, Battlemaster is much more... 'intimidating' than Colonel."

"My hoof against your face would be intimidating," Rainbow Dash whispered out loud and rolling her eyes.

Twilight hears this and quickly pulls Rainbow Dash's face towards hers, away from Ziro's direction. Without trying to get his attention, Twilight tries whispering. "Rainbow Dash, you don't say these out loud even if you did, quietly..." she took a glimpse at Ziro and looked back into Rainbow Dash, "and in front of them."

Rainbow Dash groaned, "Ugghh... sorry, Twilight. I usually don't like the type of ponies that boasts about themselves."

"You must be Rainbow Dash," Ziro indicated, stepping closer towards them. "Captain of the Wonderbolts, I heard."

Rainbow Dash slightly brushed, it was one of those questions that always caused her to hesitate. "Eheheh, "future" Captain of the Wonderbolts, Colonel."

Ziro raised an eyebrow. "I heard about your exploits rounding up the entire Diamond Dog network, help repelling the Changeling attack, defeating an Ursa Major, and achieving the legendary 'Sonic Rainboom', am I right? Such achievements don't go unrewarded."

"Yeah, that's mostly right. A pegasus only becomes Captain of the Wonderbolts if they pass a test. And I usually do better in the moment, not being monitored or anything by dozens of ponies, y'know."

"Ahhh, I see. A pity then. It's a shame only through pre-planned and fixed tests can you rise in the ranks," he said, taking a sip of his beverage. "The parallels between us and the ponies are all too similar, would you not agree, General Razak?" turning his head towards Razak.

General Razak's face tightened, irritated and slandered by Colonel Ziro's unsubtle remarks. "Colonel Ziro, I do believe these fine ponies have other guests to meet and other priorities such as locating their friend, Rarity. And I'm sure you also want to get to know the faces around here. You should start making friends now that you're standing among us now," he said relaxingly, managing to keep his cool.

Ziro took both of their frontal left hooves and gave a peck on each. "Till we meet again, my little ponies. I hope the next time we meet, it is on... better conditions than here," he ended, still sounding smuggish in front of them.

"Sorry, that Zebra has been a thorn in my side ever since he was promoted a few months ago. He's been boasting about his unorthodox tactics to everyone since then."

"Unorthodox tactics?"

"Ziro has a very different view on military strategies. On the battlefield, he often experiments with  , but nevermind about him, I'm sure the Empress is available now. You should go see.