Celestia's Chambers, Canterlot
May 14th, 16:29
Princess Luna of Equestria

The alicorn sisters stood beside each other as they witnessed the descent of the fading sunset emitting a golden light as it dips beyond the horizon. They both stand content as they quietly perform their daily ritual.

The sun princess notices the slight frown that formed on her younger sister's face and smiles knowingly, nuzzling her sister's neck with affection. The younger sister tenses from the touch, but does not mind the rather intrusive action from her benevolent elder sister.

"What bothers you, Luna?" the elder sibling starts as she retracts from her nuzzling. "You can share your plight with me, my dear sister."

Luna sighs in slight contempt; she hesitantly swivels her head towards her elder sister as she struggles to choose the right words to address the pressing issues that both sisters are well aware of, but Celestia is more hesitant to tackle.

"Sister, our neighboring nations have reformed for the better when Twilight and her friends enlighten them upon the values and virtues of Friendship and Harmony," Luna says, earning an expected sigh from her elder sister in return. "But we know that things had also changed as fast as it had occurred."

"Lulu, we cannot say for certain what the future holds," Celestia speaks in a soft tone. "we must be patient and open to the changes."

=UNEDITED=

It was the same response, 'be patient', the same piece of wisdom she keeps hearing from the muzzle of her elder sister clenching her jaw from rebutting such pacifist notion to riposte their roused neighbors, granted they have ponies assign to keep an eye out for any further unwelcome alteration in their states.

"'Tia, we cannot allow such a relaxed pose to be seen by our potential foes as a sign of a welcomed invasion of Equestria." Luna forewarns her own sister as gentle as she could surprising her sister as she contemplates Luna's words.

"But we cannot say for certain what actions our 'potential enemies' will do. There have not been any messages from our birds yet and therefore we cannot be rash with our decisions," Celestia justifies her point firmly, aware of how displeased Luna was with her contentiousness. "remember Luna you have been gone for so long, times have changed."

Celestia spots Luna's ear flinching from her words, most especially the last statement as she breaks eye contact in mortification, the elder for her part regrets her words for resurfacing such harsh memories upon her still healing sister and as reconciliation, she once again nuzzles Luna.

"Forgive my harsh words, Lulu," Celestia expresses her apology finding solace when Luna nuzzles back. "but I still cannot allow such preemptive actions take precedence in our pursuit of peace in all of Equus."

Luna sighs in resignation as the corona on her horn grow the celestial body that is the moon will bring dimmed light to the darkened plains of Equus, bright enough for diurnal creatures to roam the darkness in a clear field but dim enough for the nocturnal creatures to avoid being blinded which was not possible with the sun.

Luna takes pride in her role in raising the moon, under-appreciated as it is, she still carries her duty meaningfully as her power to move the celestial body is a fundamental part of the life of every creature that resides in Equus, with her magical will she plays an important part in those very lives, as she cast her doubts in the back of her mind she begins her ritual.

Silence followed aside from the constant shimmering music that emanates from Luna's corona, as Luna finds peace in her work Celestia had contemplated her sister's words further, as she balances the concern of national security over the prospect of peace. Surely with how Twilight with her friends alongside the Elements of Harmony handled the events after Luna's reformation up until now, the tranquil peace established by their heroic actions had taken more of a strong root.

Celestia would not just discredit the worries of Luna as it is indeed a concern but a concern that could have been stemmed from the multitude state of wars Equestria had endured before her sister's - turn-over - to a dissonance state, where Luna played a more active role in defending Equestria from their once barbaric neighbors. As Celestia said, times have changed, surely Luna will see that in the near future, or was her sister's instinct on martial matters had produced an envisage? Celestia was caught in a dilemma both of which could have an unintended consequence for choosing one over the other.

As Luna raised the moon in its rightful place in the heavens as Celestia flutters her wings out of its idle state she hesitantly opens her mouth to start a new conversation of which answers her silent dilemma but could not find the right word to express her words not that she has words to provide the answer to her sister's perturbed mind, she subtly inhales an air to cool her own mind. Find a balance.

"How about a proposition, Lulu?" Celestia starts earning a side glance from her sister. "If you can convince me that such actions are to be needed in our current times then I implore you to enlighten me."

This promptly earned the attention of Luna, before she could praise her sister and thank her for the sudden impromptu of a proposal but as soon as she eagerly shoots up in order to embrace her benevolent sister she immediately halts in her hooves. As benevolent and altruistic Celestia is, Luna has suspected an unknown scheme of sorts already been laid down before her as evident at the subtle smirk pressed upon her sister's muzzle.

"I am sensing a but, Tia." Luna cautiously spoke drawing a faint hurt from Celestia as she chuckles lightly.

"Dear lulu," Celestia held her chuckle punctually. "must you always suspect me of schemes? My, I am truly pained by your notion."

Luna rolled her eyes at her Celestia's sarcasm but she cares to admit it that it slightly gave her a momentary repose from her sister's irksome proposition despite not hearing the full extent of it. Luna shakes her head lightly to dismiss the giggle that escaped her lips motioning for Celestia to continue with a sway of her hoof.

"I shall continue now." Celestia nodded wisely, alleviating the hesitation Luna had just mere moments ago. "Where was I? Ah, yes!"

Celestia had now fully faced Luna confident that her sister would take stride in what she had to ask Luna for her proposition, Luna ruffled her own wings to avoid stiffening it and the slight tilt of her ears concluded Celestia that her sister was indeed nervous more than anything.

"If you are to convince me of such actions, you must, in turn, allow one creature in Equestria, a pony more preferably, to not only present to me the point you wish to impart on my decision," Celestia looked beyond her balcony gazing upon the realm and its inhabitant. "but must also share this fixation you have to our predicament, as to how you interpret it to be."

Luna mulled over what Celestia had just requested of her, how it can be solved, and immediately was cut short of her thoughts when she realized a very key detail to Celestia's proposition, the ponies of Equestria.

"But, they are all pacifist!?" Luna yelps in a borderline surprise and doubt. "How can anypony side with my views when all of them are peace-loving ponies, the prospect of conflict must be alien to them at this point in time!"

Celestia pities Luna but she deems it necessary to put her in a trial that will not only change her rather alarming view of restrained violence but if her envision are indeed correct, doubtful as it is but not unfounded, Celestia can find comfort that there are other ponies that shares this alarming detail that must be addressed.

"You can at least bring a single pony to our court privately to share your plights to me," Celestia spoke in conclusion. "and if I find your argument reasonable and sounding then I shall enact my judgment fairly."

Celestia begins to walk past her own sister towards her the entrance to her chambers, leaving a baffled Luna in her own balcony but before entering the threshold she gives her sister one more glance to see her still in her state of bewilderment looking at her.

"I wish upon you great luck, lulu."

─────────────── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───────────────

Royal Palace, Canterlot
May 15th, 10:51
Princess Luna of Equestria

"General Whiplash!"

Luna strides quickly towards a gray-coated pegasus upon hearing his rank and name spoken by such volume that nearly shatters the window glasses around from the Royal Canterlot Voice. General Whiplash, true to his name, swiftly twists his frame towards the origin of the voice placing his glasses away in his uniform pouch in a show of respect to his princess, despite the shaking of his limbs and the nervous twitch of his mustache.

"Y-yes, Your Highness," Whiplash salutes his Commander-In-Chief. "how may I be of your assistance?"

The moon princess displays a rather alarming smile that did not help ease Whiplash's nerve and the rather speedy trot aimed at his direction was not helping the shaking sensation of his limbs, but running away from his superior would be seen as a disgrace to his rank, so he stood.

"Just the stallion I need!" Luna proclaimed a little too excitedly earning a cough from Whiplash.

"Y-yes, Princess!?"

"I need you, Lieutenant General, walk with me as we have much to discuss!" Luna said as final and earned a blush from Whiplash as he hesitantly matches the speedy trot of his Princess.

"As you say, Princess." Whiplash quickly replies.

Both of them walked in silence disturbed only by their hasty hoofsteps as they walked the stretch of the Royal Palace, while Luna has rediscovered her vigor for finally finding the right pony for aligning themself to her conundrum, Whiplash himself was anxious about being herded by the Princess herself.

Whiplash, as old as he was, was thinking of another problem entirely different from Luna's, he hopes he doesn't have to add another mare in his herd and a princess at that, his life seemingly went from satisfactory to its opposite. He might be jumping to conclusions here as unpredictable as mares are, Princess Luna is royalty, surely there is something else that is plaguing Her Highness mind, something he can personally aid which he couldn't recall exactly?

Luna notices her companion's demeanor shift from calm to anxious ever since their abrupt meeting, had she addressed his rank wrong? insulted him somehow? or was it what she had asked of him? One thing Luna wants is to not impose a sense of dread nor anxiety on any of her subjects.

"What is your concern, Lieutenant General," Luna asks Whiplash, catching the stallion off from his trance. "was my sudden calling too - forward?"

Whiplash nodded sagely, having called begrudgingly, while the princess was indeed forward he was not one to deny royalty especially in his occupation in the Royal Equestrian Army, he does mind having more mares to manage but having royalty as a herd will be intimidating, but he is not one to back down from challenges.

"Quite forward, Your Highness," Whiplash finally replies surprising Luna as her ear tilts slightly, "but please be at east, I am more than capable of what you may ask of me."

Luna's enthusiasm has swelled proudly after a disappointing attempt in persuading multiple military staff, from Lieutenant Generals Soarin and Fast Clip, Ace Wing Commanders Spitfire and Night Swift, The Naval Admirals Aqua Marine and Tempest Shadow. While Tempest Shadow does have a modicum of agreement with Luna's bold stance with its neighbor the recent defeat of the Storm King has her perturbed to the point of dismissing Luna's worries promptly.

Luna was running out of officers to persuade in her point of view that was not entirely pacifist, she does wonder how such officers were granted their roles and ranks in the Royal Equestrian Army in the first place. An army needs to be an intimidating force as a passive deterrent and when needed can be deployed at a state of war but such a pacifistic posture negates everything that an army could be.

A millennium of peace has turned the once battle hardened army of Equestria into an indulgent and lax defense force, now that Luna has thought about it, why didn't they rename it to "Equestrian Defence Force" if the modern army of Equestria was as such.

But she might be able to convince the old stallion into her view in reforming the Army to prepare the ponies of Equestria from their roused neighbors, at least, she hopes she can. Looking at the stallion lowered Luna's zeal in pursuing this radical plan, the stallion himself was old, devoid of any scars, and a rather relaxed posture, a stallion made in peace.

Luna suddenly halts her steps and glares at Whiplash who in turn quizzically faces the moon princess, they both stay in such awkward stares for moments before the stallion coughs to break the tension and makes Luna sign in resignation.

"What has bothered you, Your Highness?" Whiplash upon realizing that this was possibly more serious than a 'mare wants stallion' issue, even more, concerning that the moon princess herself was not asleep at this time of the hour and the slight restlessness of her demeanor supports this case.

"It concerns the security of Equestria, Lieutenant General," Luna tiredly replied as her head slightly fell down in resignation, "and I judge you might say the same to my proposition."

"I am a Lieutenant General, Your Highness," Whiplash salutes earnestly and inwardly cringing at the thought of Luna ever becoming part of his herd, "a-any concern that involves the national security of Equestria is my top concern."

"You hesitate clearly, Lieutenant General, do you really wish to hear my- Equestria's plight?" Luna stood in front of the stallion towering over him with wings fully extended, this did little to cower Whiplash in performing his duty to the Princesses and Equestria.

"Of course, Your Highness, more than anything for Equestria." Whiplash bowed in recognition of Luna's unspoken challenge.

"Very well," Luna backs down and her wings tucked themselves back at her sides, "Are you aware that our 'army' is rather - relaxed?"

"Yes, it has rather been this way since your - departure," Whiplash stroke his chin and nodded precariously from his recollection of Luna's betrayal, "a great number of ponies pursue peace and with Princess Celestia alone at the helm of leading Equestria the pursuit of peace was made a priority in order to end the long time struggle of conflict Equestria always face."

Luna's muzzle scrunches at Whiplash's blunt answer but choosing to ignore the harsher portion of his statement in order to dwell on the stallion's words, after her banishment to the very celestial body she posses, the ponies of Equestria's will to fight was squashed? Have they lost faith when she, their martial princess of the moon, betrayed them? Luna was conflicted for sure but one thing is for certain, the ponies of Equestria were fed up with war, exhausted and bleeding at a time where conflict looks to expand beyond the decades, and with Luna's betrayal that may seem to be the final straw to pursue peace instead of continual conflict.

"I see, that does... pains me to think so," Luna spoke in contempt at herself for what she had done in the past, "But I wish for you to hear my case, if you cannot agree with me then say so."

Whiplash nodded solemnly at his princess as they continued to walk this time at such a pace good enough to have thought on each hoof, Luna was no longer enthusiastic about her case but if she could not persuade anyone to her cause she might be able to plant the root of it in their minds.

"Our 'army' is no longer on par with our neighbors, as far as I am aware of the matter," Luna starts, "I am only concerned with Equestria's security, however, do not discredit my appeal for a scheme, Equestria comes first after all."

"And you are a benevolent princess for thinking so," Whiplash spoke to lighten his princess's worry. "a worthy princess of Equestria no doubt."

"Your words flatter me but there is no need for it," Luna reprimand earning a prompt apology from Whiplash, "I only wish for our army to be prepared and serve as a deterrent to negate any notion of an invasion from our neighbors."

Both ponies continue their walk in silence as Luna awaits Whiplash's rebuttal to her case side glancing at the stallion as he evaluates his thoughts in the matter.

"I have an idea of what you had proposed, Your Highness," Whiplash finally spoke however Luna can sense a 'but' coming right after, "but I cannot say for certain if it serves as a passive deterrent to our opportunistic foes."

"Do forgive my limited knowledge of our neighbors." Whiplash spoke again, "For the Griffons for example they are a rather confronting bunch if they witness a supposed escalation from Equestria they'll see it as a challenge, in turn, provoking a conflict instead of being intimidated with our might."

Luna nodded thoughtfully, as far as she had known the Griffons before her banishment, they are rather a rowdy species, what Whiplash had assessed does hold weight to her argument, if it were to come to it a fight with the Griffons against the pacifist Equestrian ponies they'd be overwhelmed easily. But.

"However, if we were to completely be unarmed and unprepared, what difference does it make if we had done the opposite?" Luna refutes, Whiplash widens his eyes before glancing around them earning a skeptic gaze from the princess.

"If such plans were put to action I am afraid of repercussions may follow soon after, Your Highness." Whiplash forewarns Luna in a hushed but audible privately to both of them.

This does catch the attention of Luna, repercussion? there are always repercussions in a display of force, surely the lieutenant general had jest? However, the serious and reserved demeanor of Whiplash dismisses Luna's thoughts of any hoax.

Luna's horn lit up and a piercing light envelops both ponies, once the blinding light had dissipated both are standing in Luna's chamber with a faint coat of aura spread across every surface in the room, Whiplash naturally eyes the room and settle when he realizes it was the princess's chamber, he inwardly cringes again at his former thoughts with Luna as part of his herd.

"If what you were about to say is a private matter, I transfer us in my chamber," Luna spoke while motioning her hoof to emphasize her room, "You may speak freely without the ears of a pony to dabble in our conversation."

"Very well, Your Highness," Whiplash sighs and closes his eyes in relief, "there are rumors of a faction within the many noble families conspiring for a supremacist take on the many species that have resided within the borders of Equestria."

"And by reforming the army they will have an outlet for their supremacist aspiration, how?" Luna firmly asks as if Whiplash had personally been the same noble ponies he had just described.

"It is a rather well-known rumor across the noble houses, but that's just it, a rumor." Whiplash ended in a rather underlying tone which his princess noticed instantly.

"Yet, you show the need to divulge such information, a rumor to be precise," Luna harden on Whiplash, "While I refer to you the case that might decide the future of Equestria, here you find the time to ail me with a rumor?!"

Whiplash relents, ears tucked in his poll, swiftly bowing in an expression of seeking forgiveness, while Luna was aware of her increasing temper was still mad to have her issues sidelined, rumors of all things! She was not having it, not after the continuous rejection from the army, aviation, and naval staff, none of it she can handle.

"Forgive me, Your Highness, it's just-- that-- the nobles are-"

"Silence!"

Luna had used her Royal Canterlot Voice with an immediate effect of clamping Whiplash's mouth shut and continuing to bow his head in repentance, his forehead stamping the floor firmly. Luna’s wings were extended, eyes slightly glowing, and nose flared in clear anger.

“You are dismissed, Lieutenant General,” As Luna retakes her composure she dismisses the multi-layer wards infused upon the walls of her chamber, “You may resume your duty to Equestria.”

Whiplash still hasn’t recovered from the princess’s outburst but promptly replies with a “Yes, Your Highness” before excusing himself out of her room. Luna now alone to gather her thoughts feels that her cause was futile after all.

“What am I to do now?”

Author's Note

This is my very first FIMFiction story and am willing to hear the many critics and even suggestions on how to continue with the story as the story tends to be harder to formulate as I go on. I have plans for the story I wish to write but I can include parts you may suggest if I find it necessary or essential to the plot I had conjured from the empty bowels of my mind.

I am an amateur on storytelling, I think it shows in the way I write and the overall feel of the story I will write, but I hope to improve as I write more. I also have a problem with the lack of vocabulary, which I hope to solve along the way.

Thank you for reading this very hastily made story I had conjured from playing too many strategy games, most especially Hearts of Iron 4: Equestria at War. I hope to update as much as I can possible with, most likely, minor problems with grammar and words delivered in the wrong context.