The Princess of Night in the City of Light

Chapters

Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Interlude
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11

Chapter 1

Luna put down her cup of coffee as she scanned over the newspaper. Papers from all over Griffonia were piled up beside her as she read each one for the biggest news on the continent. Carefully she tucked the paper from Wingbardy away and pulled up the Aquileian one.

FLOWENA BANKS REOPENED

She raised a brow as she read through the article.

In the aftermath of the Queen's retaking of the Peripherie, the great city of Flowena has been the focus of the crown's rebuilding efforts. Pardons had been given to the many patrician families in exchange for oaths of loyalty as well as reopening the banks and allowing them continue to do business across Griffonia. Any damages incurred during the Reclamation Wars will be paid off in installments starting at...

Her eyes continued to scan the articles tirelessly, stopping momentarily only to jot down possible economic changes across the region. After what felt like hours of work, the letters began to flow into each other and she glanced up watching Tiberius rest upside down on the perch, hanging by his tail. She smiled gently as she set her pen down and rubbed an eye with a hoof.

"Tiberius, would you like to come along with me to pick up Spike and Flurry?"

The opossum let out a little squeak as he opened his eyes. He dropped to the floor and scurried over to her leg, then climbed right on up onto her back. She felt his little paws grip onto her neck to keep secure as she went about readying herself for the trip out.

Part of Jet Set's efforts to maintain relations with Equestria prior to its fall meant construction of a new school: The New Mareland School of Friendship. Luna stood in front of the gates, waiting alongside the other families as the school day was ending. As the bell chimed to let the students and staff know it was time to leave, the doors opened and plenty of foals as well as a few griffon cubs came scurrying on out. Flurry Heart followed last, keeping separate from the others. As the children began the walk home with their parents Luna lowered herself down a little to smile at Flurry.

"Did you have a good day at school?"

"I guess," the filly shrugged her wings, "Are we going back to the house?"

Luna shook her head. "We're going to be picking up Spike from the office. Would you like to ride on my back? I brought Tiberius."

Flurry gave a sedate nod as she leaped up onto Luna’s back. Tiberius blinked at the filly and she pulled him up into a hug, careful not to crush him. He squeaked out in some protest but relented and returned the gesture.

The office for the governor of New Mareland was not the most prestigious building in Sunset, but it was enough to accommodate the needs for running the nation. As they approached the guards let them through without any trouble and Luna proceeded directly for Jet Set's office.

She stopped when she saw Spike behind the secretary's desk, on the phone and writing a message down. He waved to them with a smile as he said farewells to the person on the other line and hung up.

"Hey there Luna, Flurry! Oh, Tiberius too! You all came to see Jet Set?"

Luna took a glance around the office before she shook her head. "Nay, I came to pick you up. I did not expect to see you as the new secretary."

"Heh, Gladys needed me to fill in for a bit is all- Oh, hey Gladys!"

An older griffon came waddling on down from another hall, adjusting her glasses. "What a pleasant surprise, Princess Luna. Come to check in on Spike?"

"To take him back to the house, his hours are about done aren't they?"

Gladys clucked her beak in thought as she looked at the clock on her desk. "Oh, it is about that time! Did everything go alright, Spike?"

The dragon hopped out of her chair and gave a little salute. "Sure did! Only one call, I have the message written down right there for you."

As she took her seat the griffon quickly read the note and smiled. "You're such a good helper Spike, it's so nice to have you around the office. Princess Luna, would you like to wait for Jet Set to be available? The governor is in a meeting with the Aquileian ambassador."

"Truly? I suppose it's none of my business but-"

She was cut off when the door to Jet Set's office opened with him and a rather plain looking, but well dressed pegasus walking out.

"I will be sure to let the queen know of New Mareland's interests in connecting with our banking institutions," the pegasus said in a rich accent.

"And I will see about an exchange program for students to come to the School of Friendship, Marché Difficile.”

“Please, Jet Set, call me Hard Bargain! That is the Ponish version of my name after all...” the pegasus trailed off as he saw Luna and he smiled at the princess, then bowed low to her. “Oh goodness, Princess Luna! What an honor it is to meet you!”

Reflexively she held her hoof out to him and he dutifully kissed her fetlock.

“I see that traditional etiquette is still taught in Aquileia. It is good to meet you too, Marché Difficile, and please, I can speak Aquileian just fine if that is a concern.”

As Marché stood back up he inclined his head slightly. “I was hoping to call on you at your estate, Princess, but since you are here I can offer the invitation Queen Vivienne extends to meet with her.”

He tucked a wing inside of his suit jacket and pulled a letter out, then passed it over to Luna.

“There are more details within, I do not know them of course, I just am passing things along.”

“Why thank you Marché, I will be sure to read it post haste. But first, I have to bring these ones home.”

It was then that he noticed Flurry Heart and he carefully brushed his mane back. “Two princesses! Hah, what a blessing it seems. It is good to meet you too, Princess Flurry Heart.”

The young alicorn snuggled onto Tiberius. “Hello Mr. Bargain,” she squeaked out shyly.

With a little chuckle the ambassador gave a bow. “Perhaps in the course of my duties we will all meet again. Au revoir, Princess Luna, Princess Flurry Heart.”

“Au revoir.”

“Goodbye.”

“May I see your homework, Flurry?” Luna requested as she finished putting the silverware away.

Quietly, Flurry left the table to go fetch her work while Spike remained, idly chewing on a gem as he looked at the sealed envelope sitting in front of Luna's seat. After the dishes were put away the princess sat back down to look at the envelope. Her eyes glanced up at the dragon then back down.

“The last time a letter arrived...”

“I will not leave you and Flurry, I swear.”

Spike merely chewed on his gem as Flurry returned and placed her homework on top of the envelope. Luna looked over the papers, ensuring that it was all filled out. She smiled at her niece as she reorganized the papers and gave them back.

“Are you going to read it?”

Luna picked up the envelope and slowly opened it, a pit of dread in her belly. Her eyebrows raised as she unfolded the letter, the paper of such quality that she almost mistook it for the stationary Celestia used back in Canterlot. She squinted a bit, written in Aquileian as it was, until she recalled the script.

To Princess Luna,

I am Queen Vivienne Discret of Aquileia. I hope my letter has found its way to you. To be blunt, I would be honored if we could meet. Keeping track of current events as I must, the loss of Equestria was a terrible thing for everyone, most certainly for your family and subjects. It is quite unfortunate that I could not keep track of the Great War in its entirety for my research, but that is partly why I have written to you.

I wish to teach you modern methods of war.

It sounds ridiculous as I pen this letter. A warrior princess, being taught war! But I look to my north, and the feeling of losing my home, my people, to a hungry invader fills me with dread, and knowing that feeling I could not help but be moved by your plight. With my current successes I also believe it reasonable to help train the New Mareland military with what we have learned in the Peripherie.

Denounce me for my pity, for that is surely what it is, but my want to help is still sincere. Of course, not without some caveats. What I seek is dependent entirely upon your acceptance, what my ambassador has relayed to governor Jet Set is separate from this endeavor. As such, preferences for Aquileian merchant vessels, access to naval bases for our fleets, aluminium, and crystals.

I am asking for quite a lot, no? We can negotiate such trivial details when we meet. Say, Pridea? Or perhaps New Manehattan? The time and place I leave to you.

If you wish to reject or accept my offer, simply tell Marché Difficile and he will let me know.

Sincerely,

Queen Vivienne Discret

“Are you going to leave us too?”

The accusation took her off guard and she looked to Flurry with a shake of her head even as the filly stared at her unhappily.

“By the moon, no, I will not leave you or Spike. Wherever I go I will bring you both, you have my word.”

Spike tapped his claws together, “What're you gonna do, Princess?”

Mulling it over, she put the letter back into the envelope. “Truly? I need to think on it. It is a lot to take in. I will have to speak with Celestia about this.”

She had forsaken the realm of dreams as war approached, the fears and nightmares plaguing ponies far too much for one to bear. The motes for each individual across the continent would have been dizzying for anyone else to try and sift through, but she knew exactly who she was looking for. Like a beacon, Celestia's presence in the dream realm made it easy to discern her location and she slid into the dream effortlessly.

The landscape was barren, covered in ice and snow. Out in the distance was a morass of undead, impossible for her to tell apart from the other as the faceless masses. She walked up slowly to Celestia, her sister dressed for war in shimmering gold.

"So this was the end of the war?" she asked as her hooves stepped on top of the snow.

Celestia turned her head as she approached, then gave a nod before she turned her head back to look to the dream-made undead horde.

"Most of the war was called The Long Night. It happened independently of what happened in Equestria, but I would not be shocked if it was urged by your fall."

That revelation made a pit form in Luna's stomach. "There is something disturbingly familiar about them. Whom did these undead serve?"

"Maar, the griffon god of death. They call him evil, after he had 'cursed' them with self-reflection, to think on what they have done." Her sister turned her head. "What news do you bring?"

Teal eyes met magenta ones and a sudden bout of nervousness ran through Luna.

"Queen Vivienne wishes to meet with me." Celestia's face shifted slightly at the news. "Is something the matter...?"

"I have already spoken with Beakolini, and told him to speak with Jet Set about arranging for trade and military assistance."

Luna's lips curled into a deep frown. "I take it you did not seek him out on your own."

"Not exactly, but I had expected to be found out sooner or later. The bearded vulture, I had seen it in Karthin and for some reason I followed after it until I found the Blackwings assaulting a Maarite cult in broad daylight."

The princess blinked at that. “The bearded vulture... And you witnessed the destruction of a cult?” Luna shook her head. “This is not a coincidence. Someone, something, is tracking your progress.”

Celestia looked out at the teeming mass of the undead and Luna could not help but notice the twitch in her sister's hind leg.

Luna moved in closer and gently nudged her older sister. “Just what did you speak with Beakolini about exactly?” she asked.

Celestia's mane wavered as she shook her head and gave a slight shrug. "As you know, Wingbardy has been testing the border with New Mareland. I just pointed out that Aquileia would not take kindly to him spreading influence so forcefully. And that Wingbardy had lost a lot in the wars its been in these past few years, what with much of its navy needing repairs after fighting Aris as well as Griffonstone holding out against his armies. So, I directed him to open up talks with Jet Set to see if the path of diplomacy would be more profitable for him. Now, tell me what Aquileia wants."

"I understand you are stressed, sister, but please do not be short with me," she scoffed.

Celestia looked to the ground as she pinned her ears back. "I'm sorry Luna."

"Apology accepted. Now, as for what the queen wants, she has been asking to see me personally. Apparently she wishes to learn of my battle strategies of eld. Why, I do not know, as her armies had worked wonders in reasserting dominance of the Peripherie. Besides that, as you had asked of Wingbardy she has also offered training and supplies in exchange for port and resource access. With your revelation about Beakolini, I do not think we will be able to wrangle a deal with both and may have to pick one."

"The Karthinian Pact has the greater land border with New Mareland," Celestia said, though that worry rang hollow in Luna's ears.

"Queen Vivienne is not a fascist and has a robust, modern legal code as well as Aquileia having a history of treating their pony minorities fairly well. Better than New Mareland has treated its griffons," she countered.

Celestia raised a brow. "I cannot deny any of that. And Aquileia is in a better position economically than Wingbardy is as well. But the Empire still threatens their border, and if they decide to strike I imagine Beakolini would march from the south to try and take what he could from them as well."

Luna watched as Celestia looked out at the unmoving masses of undead. The older alicorn's horn lit up and she tested a blast of magic, causing one of the undead to vanish in a puff of smoke.

"I feel like I must do something, Celestia. So, I will meet with the queen. While Jet Set is officially in charge of New Mareland, I wish to do something to help."

"Then go, and hope the meeting is fruitful. Just do not make any promises. And be careful, Queen Vivienne is a clever griffon."

Luna watched as Celestia used her magic to tear through the dream-made facsimiles. The passionless look on her older sister's face as she did the deed would have frightened her if it were the real world, and it still did to a degree.

"Rest well sister, I shall speak with you again after my meeting with the queen."

Celestia didn't respond as Luna shifted out of the dream, leaving her be.

Chapter 2

"Do I have to be all dressed up?" Flurry pouted as Luna made sure her niece's dress didn't constrain her too much.

"We are hosting Queen Vivienne, Flurry, so yes. I am dressed up, and Spike is as well."

For his part Spike was constantly checking himself out in the mirror. "Yeah, looking great there Spike! It's been ages since I looked so dashing."

Tiberius was sitting on the floor next to Spike with his own matching red bowtie on. The grandfather clock next to them let out a chime, the hour of the Queen’s arrival. Luna gave one last check to make sure that the other three had nothing out of place before leading them to the foyer of the house.

Fussing gently with her own dress, she waited until the oaken doors were opened, the thestral guard walking inside and holding it open.

"Presenting her royal highness, Queen Vivienne of Aquileia," rasped the bat pony.

The griffon walked in, her own guards following close behind her. The most striking feature Luna saw was the hen's eyes, a bright, teal blue that seemed to be full of amusement even as she kept a more subdued expression. The white feathering around her eyes helped draw attention to her irises, the rest of her a rich brown save for her curious blonde wig. The second striking feature was the queen's royal garb, finely tailored that even Rarity would have felt inferior to the quality of the make, and all without any of the cumbersome accessories of her role like the crown or scepter.

Luna moved to bow and she heard Vivienne's laugh, soft and rich like her accent.

"Oh no no no, I am a guest to your lovely home, Princess Luna! We are peers, and peers do not bow to one another!" the griffon queen chided lightly. "And look, you have the lovely children and..."

Luna stole a glance, Tiberius standing up proudly. "That is Tiberius, he is a dear pet of mine. He is known as an opossum, the only marsupial that exists outside of Cross Island."

"I see. Such an exotic creature, well fitting for a princess no?"

"Opossums are common throughout Equestria, barring the deserts of the southwest. They're not very exotic at all," Flurry Heart peeped up before she idly kicked a hoof against the ground. "Um, your highness."

Another laugh from the queen. "You have such a darling niece, Princess. But please, I am here for a purpose, no? Shall we get to business?"

Luna nodded and motioned for the others. "Spike, is the dining room ready?"

"Everything is all set, Princess Luna!"

"Good, please begin serving dinner."

Vivienne raised a slight brow as she smiled. "I am curious to see what a young dragon cooks for royalty."

At the dinner table Luna sat at the head with Vivienne on her right and Flurry on her left. Spike took it upon himself to serve the meals, putting the plates in front of them. Vivienne could not help but stare at what lay before her on her plate.

"I made it all from scratch! Some good ol' hayburgers and fries, like how they're made at Hay Burger! Twilight loved eating there," the dragon's voice hitched a little.

Vivienne glanced up at Spike and gave him a small, strained smile. "It looks quite interesting. The ponies of Aquileia eat similar things I am told, but I have never experienced such for myself."

Flurry and Luna began to eat their meals while Vivienne picked up hers into her hands. Her beak opened and she bit down, tearing a chunk out and then swallowing.

"So what do you think?" Spike asked with a smile.

"I am grateful for your hospitality and for making dinner," Vivienne replied carefully.

Spike beamed happily, but Luna's ear twitched and she shot a glance at the queen.

"You can tell him you don't like it," Flurry interjected.

"Flurry!" Luna snapped.

Carefully the queen dabbed a napkin across her beak. "It is not to my preference, but he had put in effort and is trusted enough to cook. It would be rude of me to push away my host's generosity after all."

"I do not often discuss business at the dinner table," Luna directed to Vivienne, "but you are here for a reason other than just a friendly visit."

Vivienne smiled at her host. "In Aquileia, business is often done at the dinner table! It is easier to compromise when one's belly is full of food and drink."

"And you have barely touched your food. Trying to out maneuver me?"

"Oh-ho, Princess! No no, I am merely trying to get used to the dish. The taste and texture are different from what I am used to."

Flurry slowly pushed her empty plate forward. "May I be excused?"

"You may," Luna replied and watched as her niece set her seat back and then walked out of the dining room.

Spike soon left the table as well, taking the dirty dishes off to the kitchen.

"I have not seen one servant, other than the guards outside."

"My sister forsook the title of Princess after we fled Manehattan. We also promised to look after Flurry Heart and Spike, and I take my oaths seriously."

"Still, no one to ensure they go to bed on time, are properly dressed, all of that?"

"My sister and I did it, and with her away I do it myself. Jet Set is governor of New Mareland, empowered by the crown, thus giving us time to actually ensure Flurry and Spike get the attention and care they need."

Vivienne raised her glass and took a long drink from it before she set it back down and snapped her fingers. One guard who had been standing just right at the entryway walked in and deposited a series of folders in front of the queen before he went back to his position.

"Let us talk business then," the queen said.

Luna assumed that Vivienne would launch right into the resources she sought and why, to try and convince her of the necessity of supporting the Aquileian military and industry. Instead the queen laid out various maps of battles that Luna was very familiar with, the alicorn shifting uncomfortably in her seat.

"The battle of Tall Tale, of the Alicorn Plateau, the defense of Manehattan..."

"Oui. I wish to go over these battles you led and get a good overview of what I am to be working with."

Luna clicked her tongue against the roof of her mouth. "I thought you would try to convince me to sell mineral rights and docking space over to you first."

The queen smiled and let out a soft, trilling laugh. "Oh, that will come later, Princess! Now, back to the task at hand?"

She looked back down at the maps that were laid out and she pulled the overview of Tall Tale closer. Her eyes closed as she steadied her breathing.

"Tall Tale was the second major disaster of the war," Luna started, "when the changelings took Vanhoover through infiltration tactics the fleet there was also captured, thus allowing for their navy to continue to assault along the western coast. The retreat to Tall Tale was not well organized, and by the time the soldiers could even begin to entrench the changelings were on them."

"And, looking back, if there was anything you could have done?"

"Set Tall Tale as a proper fallback line in the weeks prior. The terrain was advantageous for artillery support, but we did not produce enough before the war started. We lost the first few lines of defense before we could get enough to truly make them consider their moves, but..." Luna’s voice trailed off.

Vivienne nodded as she took the Tall Tale map and handed over the Alicorn Plateau map.

"My most humiliating defeat. Trimmel outmaneuvered me badly, and we lost too many good soldiers, right under the shadow of Canterlot. He had cut off the Crystal Empire from us, allowing them to be besieged while he continued to push us back. For this battle? More air support would have been vital, but the changelings had been overwhelming us. It is only by the fact that Canterlot was heavily enforced with anti-air emplacements that let us use the air strips there for as long as we could."

"I do not mean to accuse, but after being pushed so far back why were you not replaced?"

Luna gave a strained smile. "Sunset Shimmer was given command of the southern front and she did damn well better than I. As for replacing me? Blueblood was an even worse commander. Bless him, he did his best, but he was purely in position for prestige and not skill."

She slid the map away and took the Manehattan one.

"You changed strategy after the loss of Canterlot. A measured, steady retreat to the eastern cities, with constant artillery and air support. I foresaw your victory with such a pace after another two years, as the changelings were grinding against the south and north both. But, the communists of Stalliongrad began to push."

The princess stared hard and long at the map of Manehattan. "We were there for weeks. Supplies were shipped to us, and our navies had consolidated to try and keep the Celestial Sea open..."

"Tell me about the defense of the city."

Luna shook her head to focus and pointed along marked spots on the map. "Your information on the other battles were accurate, but not here. You see, we had already blown the bridges here, here, and here, to limit changeling advance. It was risky, but I had the artillery moved close to the lines and did a saturation bombardment of the main roads. Trimmel and I both learned some valuable lessons in the defense of the city."

"And what were those, princess?"

"Tanks do not fare well in urban combat, and artillery kills tanks."

The princess looked up to the queen who gave a slight smile, teal eyes twinkling.

"I just want you to answer me this one question, princess. What is king of the battlefield?"

Luna closed her eyes to think for a moment. "The true king of the battlefield? Everyone has their role to play. There is no advancing without infantry to hold positions. Tanks are required to break through enemy lines."

"Non!" Vivienne snapped, "Artillerie! It is the king, for it is the most important piece! Infantry is the queen, for the queen must protect the king. It is like chess, Princess Luna!"

She looked at the queen in shock, as Vivienne poked her firmly in the chest as if admonishing one of her own generals.

"Every piece does have its place, but for a secure border letting the enemy be aware that they are marching to their doom that sounds with the chorus of 105 millimeter shells is vital! Equestria could have stood for longer if you had more precious artillery. I have studied Equestria's standings before and during the war before coming here, and while you could have reversed things the early war could have been easily avoided!"

"I know that!" Luna exploded, smacking Vivienne's hand away. "The moment the Dotted Line Report came out I knew! It is not as easy as having more artillery or planes in the sky! The changelings can shift form and commit all sorts of perfidy! Disguising as civilians, as dead Equestrians, committing acts of sabotage and assassination using such guises! Have you faced such a foe, Vivienne? Have you had to shoot someone you thought was a friend only because you realized they were already dead and a bug was wearing their face!?"

The queen nearly fell backwards from the ferocity the alicorn presented. Her guard had taken half a step forward when Vivienne raised her talons to make him halt. Quickly she regained her composure and ran her talons through the fine strands of her wig.

"No, I have not," she said after a moment of silence. "It beggars belief for an entire race to be so capable. Not all ponies can cast spells, nor can all griffons enchant, and yet when it comes to the bugs they can happily do this and more..." Vivienne's voice trailed off as she shook her head in disbelief. "I admit while I followed the attack on Canterlot, our understanding of it until now was that it was merely a regrettably uninteresting catastrophic miscalculation by the Equestrian command, not something to gather military insight from. Not even the Republicans were so foul a foe. Unlike the Changelings, once we revealed their plot they could not hide anymore. The mistake, I must admit, is mine. It is dangerous to be misinformed in positions such as ours." She paused for a second, fiddling with one of the maps on the table. "If what you say is indeed true, it is a miracle that you lasted as long as you did." She placed the map down and stared the alicorn in the eye. "Please forgive me Princess Luna, I did not mean to be so rude and arrogant."

Silence descended as Vivienne took the maps and put them away.

"We can discuss things another time if you would prefer, Princess."

She looked up and saw Vivienne stand up then shook her head. "Nay, stay, we have other things to discuss. You said it was to be payment for teaching me, and so I must ask; why do you wish to?"

As the queen smiled, Luna could not place the exact emotion behind it. Those teal eyes were alive with delight, but something deeper was in there that flashed for only a moment, even as the griffon kept from making such a sound, her beak curled into a little grin.

"How many can say they taught an alicorn anything?"

Chapter 3

"I don't want to go!" Flurry cried behind her door.

Luna sat outside of her niece's room as the younger alicorn threw her tantrum. She heard stomps and crying along with the crashing and banging of things being pulled down and thrown around. A glance at Spike's worried expression finally strengthened her resolve to make a move. "Go get some ice cream," she whispered to him.

He gave a nod then scurried off.

"Flurry, may I come in?"

"No!"

Another crash and Luna winced. The noise had stopped after that save for Flurry's crying, the older alicorn remained at the door until Spike came back with a tub of ice cream and bowls.

"Flurry," Spike started, "I got ice cream!"

Flurry's crying eased off as the door slowly opened, just enough for her magic to envelope the entire tub of ice cream and rapidly pulled it from Spike’s grasp. Luna swiftly encased the ice cream in her own magic and blinked in surprise at the power behind Flurry’s pull. Rather than yank it back she kept the tub of ice cream in place. There was still a hiccup or two from the otherside of the door.

“Flurry, you can have ice cream if you let us in.”

The door opened up a little more, Flurry's face streaked with tears and snot while her eyes were puffy and red. Her wings were disheveled, feathers out of place with desperate need to be preened. She took the bowl Spike offered and shuffled back inside, not closing the door. Luna followed in after her carefully and watched as her niece sat down in the center of the destruction, eating the ice cream and sniffling.

Slowly she approached Flurry and gently nudged a wing. She extended it without a word and Luna began to preen the younger alicorn, making sure the feathers were properly aligned and removing any loose ones. Once she was done with the one wing she moved to the other, Flurry obediently spreading that one as well.

"I'm sorry..." Flurry muttered out as she put the spoon in her bowl.

"It is my fault," Luna said softly as she gently laid a wing over Flurry, "I did not think about how you would feel when I made these plans."

Her niece moved in slightly to cuddle up into her side and they sat in silence. Tiberius came crawling in right up to Flurry and she pulled him up into a hug that caused the little opossum to squeak.

"We do not have to go."

Flurry looked up to Luna and sniffled some more. She rubbed at her face with a hoof and shook her head. "N-no. We should go."

"But-"

"I'm a big filly! I can go!"

Luna smiled gently at her and leaned her head down to kiss Flurry on the forehead. "Let us get you cleaned up, and then we clean up this mess. We can talk more about it in the morning, okay?"

"Okay..."

The sun was just beginning to rise over the waters as the ship pulled into the port of Aquila. Luna fussed with Flurry's mane, making sure it was just right while Spike carried Tiberius on his shoulder. As the ship docked their escorts were waiting for them on the pier, large enough for a motor carriage that waited for the visitors.

"I hate boats," Flurry complained as she walked down the gangway with Spike and Tiberius right behind her.

Luna followed last as the griffon and pony Aquileians brought them over to the motor carriage. As they shuffled in Luna's eyes widened at the sight of who was already inside.

"Bonjour, Princess Luna," Vivienne said. "Princess Flurry Heart, Spike. And hello to you too, Tiberius."

The opossum let out a little squeak in return.

"Queen Vivienne, I am surprised. I thought we were to meet at the palace?"

"It is still early in the day, Princess. If it were lunch time then yes, but with the day just beginning I thought to treat you all to breakfast in the heart of Aquila. Welcome, my guests, to the City of Light."

The motor carriage took off, rumbling along. Flurry and Spike both tried to look out the windows as they passed out of the docks and onto the roads, many of the buildings by the docks were quite modern for an ancient city, with plenty of warehouses marring the aesthetic.

"The docks were the first to be renovated after the First Revolution," Vivienne explained, "though not to the extent as the effort put in elsewhere, but as a port city they must needs be the best for the flow of trade. Many ships from around the world used to come here. Sadly with the Empire on the rise our friends to the north do not come as often as they used to, and our rivalry with Wingbardy has seen trade with them grow more restricted as well."

The car passed along new construction, ponies and griffons working side by side as steel beams were lifted to secure the skeleton of the building.

"Whoa. I remember seeing something like that in Manehattan, before..." Spike blinked. "Apartment buildings?"

"Quite right. We have been long in the process of expanding. Aquileia has always had a sizable population of ponies, even prior to the founding of New Mareland, so we built in respects to our equine friends rather than the traditional methods griffons use across the continent. Unlike Griffenheim or Karthin we have always been on the forefront of modernization."

As they traveled through the city Vivienne would explain whatever Spike or Flurry pointed out. Wide streets, new businesses and homes, all the splendor of Aquila for them to witness. Spike pointed out the window and when Vivienne looked she scowled.

"Trinity Hill. The temples to Boreas, Eyr, and Arcturius stand upon the highest point in the city. Traditionally the new monarch is crowned there, and once a year we honor Princess Giselda's sacrifice."

"Sacrifice?" Flurry asked.

"She was made to marry Grover II after her father's failed rebellion against the tyranny of the Empire.” Vivienne’s beak was gritted as she spoke..

The queen rapped her knuckles on the partition between them and the chauffeur. It lowered and the guard in the front seat passed a cigarette off into her waiting talons. She rolled the window down and then the guard lit it for her.

Luna could not help but watch as the queen took a drag on the cigarette and expertly blew smoke from her nares right out the window. The hen crossed one leg over the other as she looked at the window, glaring at Trinity Hill as if her gaze could cause the temples to collapse. As Vivienne took another long drag she glanced over and Luna quickly averted her gaze but could see the queen raise a brow in her peripheral vision.

Eventually they rumbled to a stop and the door on Luna's side opened. She stepped out first, carrying Tiberius on her back and then followed by Flurry and Spike. They stood in front of a little cafe, one absolutely empty save for some nervous waiters ready to tend to them. They were ushered to a table and menus placed before them. Vivienne joined them soon enough and sat down with a smile.

"I thought to introduce you to a traditional Aquileian breakfast in the early morning at a proper cafe. Do not worry about paying, everything is already taken care of."

With a clap of her hands the waiters returned, carrying small trays of food and placed them down. Four bowls of coffee were laid out, along with small baguettes sliced in half with butter and an array of jellies and jams. Freshly baked croissants were laid down, hints of chocolate inside of them. Finally, glasses of orange juice came last.

Vivienne took a small bit of raspberry jam and spread it on her buttered baguette then dipped it in the coffee before taking a bite.

"Mm, there is nothing like an Aquileian breakfast!" she gushed before she dipped the bread back into the coffee.

Luna swiftly followed their host in doing the same, though she put a jelly of mixed berries on hers to dip. Flurry furrowed her brow in confusion as she sniffed the coffee in the bowl while Spike shoveled a few of the chocolate-filled croissants into his mouth then washed them down with some orange juice. Tiberius nibbled on a little bit of bread and jam that Luna had offered him.

"Am I supposed to be having this? Isn't coffee for adults?"

Vivienne chuckled softly as she dabbed her beak clean. "Cafe au lait is a common breakfast dish in Aquileia, Princess Flurry. Please, use your favorite jam on your baguette and dip it in the bowl, it is fantastic."

Still disbelieving, Flurry did as directed and her eyes widened as she chewed.

"Spike, please mind you manners, and leave some for me too," Luna chided the drake with a little smile.

"Let him eat, Princess Luna, it means he just loves our food so much! I am sure there will be more croissants."

They ate in comfortable silence until Spike let out a belch which caused Flurry to burst into giggles and Luna cracked a grin. Vivienne raised a brow, and then her glass of juice.

“There are many ways to show approval of a meal, sometimes the simplest ones are the best,” the Queen said with a smile.

Eventually their plates were emptied and glasses drained, the sun a little higher than when they sat down. With full bellies they all gave thanks to the servers and shuffled back into the car before it took off to the royal palace.

The Domaine Royal was the center of power in Aquileia, where the palaces and offices for those keeping the great state running were located. As they pulled up to the royal manor an array of Aquileian soldiers stood at the ready along with a number of servants. This time the car had pulled up so that Vivienne could leave first, then followed by the children and finally Luna.

"Welcome, dear guests, to my chateau," Vivienne said with a cheeky smile. "Princess Flurry, Spike, you may have the rest of the day to yourselves around the palace. Your studies will begin tomorrow."

"Studies?" they both asked in unison.

Luna nodded. "Flurry, just because we are no longer in Sunset does not mean you can avoid the books. Spike, you never had a formal education, and so Queen Vivienne is graciously providing the both of you this opportunity."

"Please princess, living with Twilight was like being at school 24/7!"

"Be that as it may, it is good to get a proper education, and there is not much need for loyal assistants when Queen Vivienne has many others to do that."

"As for you, princess," the queen said with a smirk as she motioned for Luna to follow, "your studies begin now."

Free to go about as they pleased, Spike and Flurry took off to wander the halls under the watchful eyes of some servants while Vivienne led Luna deeper in, walking through halls with such luxuries that she had never seen before, not even in the castle of Canterlot.

"Even back home I have never seen such a wondrous array of trophies and baubles lining the halls."

"Is it perhaps Equestrians are more modest, in spite of your usual lack of clothing?" Vivienne said with a glance over her shoulder and a slight smile. “Of course, beauty is to be appreciated.”

Luna raised a brow slightly. "Perhaps."

Vivienne brought Luna into a study, one which already had a large table set up. The princess could see that it had a terrain map on it, along with little models to better represent combat maneuvers. As the griffon walked up she motioned for Luna to stand across from her. Glancing around, she noted very subtle changes in the coloration of the wooden walls and some of the furniture.

"How recently was this room redone?"

"Hm? Keen eye, princess. Some years ago, after my father's murder. I had his office reorganized."

"Of course. My condolences, truly."

Vivienne scoffed as she picked up a metal piece off of the table. "I would fill Rumare Lake with tears for Equestria than shed a one for him."

Luna was taken aback by her words for a moment, but recovered as old memories sparked . "I... understand."

An eyebrow raised. "I find that hard to believe, princess."

"No, no, it's true. My sister and I were raised by Star Swirl the Bearded, and he was not a kindly caretaker. Mainly, he did not seem to understand how to raise two fillies. So when he disappeared... I felt nothing."

Vivienne waved her hand a little as she reached into the pockets lining the inside of her coat to pull out a case of cigarettes.

"Father knew how to raise a griffon cub. Nannies and governesses and all that every noble has in their employ. Care for a smoke?"

"Did you not have to have a guard pass you one in the car?"

The queen smiled broadly. "I did, yes. Now, would you care for one?"

"Ah, no thank you."

Vivienne shrugged and lit hers up then took in a deep drag before she blew out some smoke to the side.

"Now then, first things first is to learn all about logistics! Where to put the supply hubs, how to disperse ammunition depots, ensuring mechanics can repair your vehicles and war machines, all of the most important parts of running a military!"

Luna carefully stepped up to the set up table as she gave a nod to the Queen. She couldn’t remember the last time she was lectured, but if the Queen was anything like Star Swirl, she was about to face a dreadful afternoon after such a wondrous breakfast.

Chapter 4

Getting measured for the dress was not as bothersome as putting it on had been. A gift from Vivienne, the dress was drawn in tight along her barrel and withers but allowed her wings freedom, with a free flowing tail that went over her haunches and hovered just above her fetlocks so there was nothing dragging on the ground to make it dirty. The colors matched her coat, shades and tints of blues that drew attention to her wings. Her hair had been done up in a thick braid that draped over her shoulder. Once the annoyance of the process wore off and she finally beheld herself in the mirror, the bittersweet thought of just how jealous Rarity would have been to see such fine work that wasn’t her own crossed Luna's mind. A little trill of delight ran through her as she took the time to admire herself in her new gown.

Flurry was not as happy in her dress, complaining as she was that it was too tight and itchy. The teals and purples drew attention to her mane, left in its natural curls. Spike wanted to be in his usual little suit and top hat and was allowed as such, with Tiberius riding on the dragon's shoulders with his own little bowtie.

Vivienne helped make some last minute adjustments to Luna's dress, the queen's own royal outfit more airy, keeping her modest, with rich reds and purples befitting her station. Instead of a crown she wore a gold tiara inset with sapphires that matched her eyes. A pair of fine velvet gloves with gold stitching sheathed the queen’s hands and talons.

"There, you are all presentable for the nobility! Please, this way."

The queen led and they followed right behind her until she paused for a moment.

"Princess Luna, Princess Flurry, please, we are peers. You may walk beside me."

"Spike's my uncle, shouldn't he walk besides us too?"

Vivienne clicked her beak and nodded. "Yes, that would be acceptable. Together then!"

They walked out into the main hall, full to the brim with griffons and ponies, nobles and industrialists, artists and military officers. A hush descended as their queen and her guests arrived at the top of the stairs, commanding, demanding, all attention be upon them.

Vivienne looked down at the gathered guests and drew herself up. With a smile, she spoke to the crowd.

"Honored guests, welcome to my humble chateau!" She waited for the chuckling to die down before continuing. "As you know, our beautiful kingdom has been visited by very famous persons whom I shall introduce to you all today. Join me in welcoming Princess Luna of Equestria, Princess Flurry Heart of the Crystal Empire, and her uncle Spike!"

There was pleasant applause from the Aquileians and Luna could not help herself but smile at the reception. Flurry tried to shy away from the attention while Spike basked in it. Together the group descended down the stairs.

"Look, Flurry, there are others your age here. Perhaps go and make some friends," Luna suggested to her niece.

Once they reached the bottom of the stairs Tiberius hopped off of Spike to land onto Flurry's back and hugged onto her. With the assurance of her little friend her mood lightened up and she began to head into the direction of the other children.

"I'll go and make sure she keeps out of trouble!" Spike said and followed after.

"Fine suggestions I was going to make myself. Come, Princess Luna, and let us meet with the movers and shakers of Aquileia. There are many keen to meet with you!"

"Truly?"

Vivienne, despite being smaller, draped her wing around the larger alicorn to help guide her along. "But of course! To your ponies you are the younger sister of Celestia, no? Even with your charms she overshadows you. But here? You are foreign royalty, something few other Aquileians will ever get the chance to meet!"

She tried not to scowl and quickly shifted her focus to the party "Your ponies and griffons mingle so effortlessly," Luna commented as the queen brought her up to a mixed group in heated debate.

"Reopening the Flowenan banks and maintaining customer privacy was a necessary measure, the queen knows what she's doing!" A monocled griffon said, wine glass in hand.

"Only because your family are one of the owners!" Another griffon snapped.

"Gentlegriffs, please," Vivienne said as she interrupted the conversation, "Reopening the banks required much thought into it! Keeping the flow of wealth through Flowena is vital to the health of Aquileia's economy. That and helping the good folk of that beautiful city remember their roots."

The monocled griffon bowed. "Of course, your highness. Many Flowenans forgot our loyalties because of Imperial influence but I extend my gratitude to you for bringing us into the fold."

Vivienne smiled. "Of course I am not here to talk about banks and gold. Allow me to introduce Princess Luna, she and her kin will be living in Aquila for sometime and experiencing our wonderful kingdom."

Luna held her hoof out and the griffon took it to kiss. "A pleasure to meet you Princess Luna. I am Gregor Vogel."

"That's Herz. Put into place by the Empire way back, then?" Luna asked as she lowered her hoof.

Gregor nodded. "Quite so, my family may have roots in the Herzland but living in Flowena has made us appreciate proper Aquileian culture! If not for naming our children after close family we would have Aquileian names. Alas, our ancestors need to be as respected as our gracious hosts."

Luna turned her attention to the other griffon. "Do you believe that reopening the banks was wrong, or maintaining client confidentiality?"

"The confidentiality. Shouldn't we be aware if Wingbardians or Herzlanders are keeping assets inside the banks?"

"The banks and the government know what is inside those vaults, my good griffon," Vivienne told him, "It is just that no bank knows what is in another. We need to keep trust in the customers, so that they may continue to use Flowena's services! It all benefits Aquileia in the end."

He bowed. "Of course, your highness. I just worry about funding our enemies."

"Your love of our kingdom is heartening to see, it is good to challenge decisions to protect those we love. Now, excuse us gentlegriffs, there are many more for the princess and I to meet!"

For almost anyone else the evening would have been a blur of faces and names but Luna dutifully kept track of those she met. Flurry, Spike, and Tiberius had gotten their own little group, the sheer exoticness of an alicorn, dragon, and adorable foreign pet kept the other foals and cubs intrigued and entertained until some had to be brought home as the hour grew late.

After gently separating from a group of artists, Vivienne led Luna out onto a balcony and into the cool evening air. The lights of the city shone brightly in the distance, even at the late hour there was life. It wasn't the hustle and bustle of the Manehattan evening, but a more sedate pace for griffon and pony alike to simply enjoy the nightlife.

Vivienne pulled out her cigarette case and lit one up. She took in a deep inhale then blew smoke from her nares with a sigh of relief. Luna gently nudged the queen with a feather.

"May I?"

"Oh, tempted so soon?" the hen asked with a little grin as she passed one over.

As Luna placed the one end in her mouth Vivienne moved in a little closer, using the burning end of hers to help light the other. The princess took in a small puff to let the acrid smoke get pulled down into her lungs. The burning sensation was strangely appealing, and if she had not had long memories of ancient rites it would have been a surprise, but she handled it well and blew the smoke out of her own nose. The pair stood there side by side, letting their cigarettes fill their lungs as they watched the city in the distance.

"You handled those pretentious fools better than I would have alone," Vivienne said as she leaned on the railing. "The nerve, telling me to my face about working on a novel on my father's death!"

"Not as bad as those poets going on about possible ballads of my fall into Nightmare Moon. Their ignorance of what happened would be grating if they did not also ply me with compliments. Did you perhaps rehearse them with those?"

The queen scoffed. "And why would I do that?"

"Your coy act is very cute, your highness," Luna commented as she looked out to the city lights, "but I am not some fresh filly unaware of how things work. You have not taken your wing from me all evening. Perhaps there is a cultural difference between Aquileia and Equestria in some regards, but I have seen that all those in there who have their wings over another are also intimately linked."

Vivienne took a long drag on her cigarette. "Perhaps," she started, "I am merely testing the boundaries. After all, how much are you willing to give for my assistance?"

The princess scowled. "I will not whore myself out."

"Prostitution is not a shameful occupation to be shunned. The hens and mares of Aquileia that do such work are treated with respect and dignity."

"That is not the point and you know it," Luna growled.

"You can refuse at any time, princess. Just remember, I hold the cards."

A fire boiled inside of Luna as she looked at the smug grin gracing Vivienne's face, how the queen's carefully applied makeup drew attention to the subtle curves of her youthful face and how her eyes sparkled. Her horn lit and she pulled the Queen’s cigarette away to take a few puffs on it herself.

“I must say, this one tastes quite different. I rather like it,” Luna said as she gave her own smug grin only to briefly recoil back and snap a hoof to her cheek.

It stung and she could feel trickles of blood forming along the fresh cuts. Vivienne was fuming with indignation, her left talons having pierced through her glove with the slap, slight streaks of dark red on them. The cigarette that Luna had taken fell apart across the balcony, the lingering glow of the lit tobacco quickly fading away.

"Never, never, surprise me like that again," the queen hissed out.

She fumbled to get another cigarette out, smearing the blood haphazardly as she began to take long drags of her smoke. Luna looked on in a daze at the tremble along Vivienne's body while she forced herself to look back out to the city lights. Her first cigarette had remained in her magical grasp and she took it back into her mouth to finish it. The stinging in her cheek ebbed away as she could feel the flesh begin to knit back together.

"Do not expect me to apologize for cutting you."

Luna let smoke waft out of her mouth. "I would not ask such from you. I performed a faux pas. Though, it occurs to me that you do not like having control taken away."

She noticed Vivienne gave her a side eye but the queen remained quiet.

"Tutors and governesses. Your entire childhood, all planned out. No doubt you had to maintain a veneer of respectability until the murder of King Moriset. Then days later you are queen, plotting on centralizing power, centralizing control. Even your battle plans showed how much you value being in control. Artillery lets you dictate to your enemies when and where battles commence."

"You do not know me." Vivienne rapidly tapped her blood-smeared talons against the balcony’s railing.

"You think you know me then, is that it? The lonely princess of the night, abandoned by her sister and ripe to be manipulated? Seeking to swoop in like some huntress on isolated prey?"

Vivienne turned to face Luna and flicked the remnants of her cigarette off the balcony. "You want the truth of it then, Princess Luna? Yes, I am indeed seeking to drain every advantage necessary from New Mareland. With the Empire to our north we have gone in on experimental weapons to shift things into our favor. Magical weapons the likes of which the world has not known. If it means using you then so be it; nothing matters more to me than seeing Aquileia free from the Empire and those republican traitors would not have had the guts to do what was necessary like I have. And what of you, hmm? Why have you agreed to come here, to learn under me? You could have had anyone teach you modern warfare, but you seek to take advantage of what I have to offer too, don't you?"

Luna nodded as she held her head high. "Aquileia has a far greater industrial base than New Mareland. You can churn out weapons like there is no tomorrow, weapons designed for ponies and griffons in mind. What veterans we have cannot match up to the ones you have, you could train our soldiers more effectively. That, and you reached out to me."

Vivienne raised a brow.

"It is true. I could have had any number of generals or officers train me in these new ways of war, but none sought me out. I am their Princess, and thus irreproachable in their eyes."

"Even with your constant military failures?"

"Did anyone tell you what you did wrong at Avian-Les-Bains when the artillery munitions were destroyed and you had to engage in a prolonged siege? Did anyone tell you what you did wrong during the Battle of Skyfall when the Empire encircled your forces and it was only by the grace of your superior navy that they could evacuate every soldier to nearby Griffton?"

The queen took in a sharp breath. "No."

"You could say it is because you won those wars, but we both know that none of the loyalists would be so bold as to tell you what you did wrong, the most fanatical even if the palace was crumbling over their heads."

"Remnants from my father's rule. I try not to harbor sycophants but he had a terrible temper and breaking those habits are difficult."

They both leaned against the railing of the balcony, Vivienne smoothly pulled out another pair of cigarettes and offered one to Luna. The princess and queen both lit theirs up and took in deep drags of tobacco into their lungs. A soft breeze blew on by and Luna felt the queen nestle up against her.

"I am still not going to apologize."

"There is no need to. We both seek to use each other for our own ends after all. I find the arrangement agreeable, if we are honest with one another."

Vivienne let out a little noise as she blew smoke from her nares. "Tomorrow I shall show you what we are using the crystals for then."

Luna let out a little laugh and smiled to the queen. "I did not mean opening state secrets, but if you insist, Huntress."

"Huntress? Going for nicknames so soon, my Lune?" Vivienne gave the alicorn a slight grin as they stood side by side, wings over the other as they enjoyed the evening lights and the taste of tobacco on their tongues.

Chapter 5

"Your Highness I do not believe it wise for-"

"Ah ah ah, I offered to show the princess what we were using the crystals New Mareland had been giving us. There is nothing wrong in sharing knowledge, especially with Wingbardy on their borders. Whatever deals Beakolini is making with Jet Set, preparing for the future is as important for them as us. If they get taken, who will we turn to for cheap crystals?"

The unicorn adjusted his glasses as he led the queen and princess deeper into the facility.

"We were experimenting with magical firearms as well," Luna commented as she looked over the papers Vivienne had given her. "We could not figure out how to overcome maintenance issues. There were too many points of failure, and we could not afford to maintain a large stockpile of possibly useless weapons. How long have you been working on this project?"

“Since we acquired some plans from escaping Equestrian researchers,” the unicorn said, which earned a vicious glare from the queen. "S-she's already here and these are Equestrian plans we're using!"

"You are dismissed," Vivienne said sternly, leaving the unicorn to flee with his tail tucked between his legs.

"Rather cruel, was it not Vivienne? As long as our research is being used for something worthwhile I have no objections."

The hen scoffed. "If I volunteered the information then that would be fine, but I cannot be allowing others to offer up such so freely."

Their walk continued until Vivienne brought Luna into a large room with a firing range, the distinct cacophony of spells being released before they even passed through the door. A group of griffon and pony soldiers were busy testing strange firearms that Luna recognized right away.

"Those are Luna Nova rifles. You really did take our designs!" she chided Vivienne with a slight smile.

With a grin of her own the queen led her over as a light gray griffon overlooked the group. The griffon turned around and her eyes widened at their guests. She tried to salute, but with one of the rifles in her grasp she fumbled and dropped it with a clang, causing the others to look at her.

"Soldiers, attention!" she barked out, forcing the other griffons and ponies to line up and salute Vivienne.

Vivienne let out a light giggle and shook her head. "There is no need for that, general. The princess and I are here to check in on the progress. Princess Luna, this is General Sophie Altiert. She is the mastermind behind our experimental weapons program."

Sophie bowed with a nervous smile. "Princess, I must say it is an honor."

"I am curious, general. When did you have this idea?"

Sophie’s demeanor changed, brightening up at the question. "Oh, for years! But the king, he didn't care to support something so pricy despite that military expenditures are always costly. It wasn't until we received information from Equestria's weapons programs that I could convince our generous queen of the possibilities!"

Luna nodded as she walked over to examine the magical rifles that the soldiers were testing. "Did you manage to overcome the sensitivity issues?"

"Ah, no, not yet. We believe that using more flexible materials may help. Either that, or by scaling the spell matrices up to fit on a war machine instead. That we have been working on but construction is slow as we keep testing it at each stage to ensure safety."

"I have said that perhaps it should be artillery," Vivienne said, "but to convert our current stockpiles to something like that is a rather daunting effort."

"A tank, perhaps?" Luna offered, then noticed the look the queen and general shared. "Ah, already working on spell-powered tanks. Seems more risky than artillery."

"If an artillery unit explodes it's often in close proximity to other units, collateral damages are higher. An experimental tank is at least far enough from others if it explodes."

Luna furrowed her brow as she looked at Sophie. "Breaking down I can see but, exploding?"

Sophie nervously tapped her talons together. "By trying to use stiffer, sturdier materials the vibrations of the crystals when in use reverberate through the metal and enter a feedback loop. It's not a problem with the small arms as the crystals for those are small enough that they wind up being knocked out of place. Of course, being inside the rifle the crystal vibrating out of place means- Well, you know from your own experiments with these weapons."

Luna walked over to one such rifle and examined it carefully. Her horn lit up and she deftly stripped it down to uncover the crystal matrix that powered it. She looked at it for a long moment.

"What if we did it like a normal weapon magazine? Insert a block of crystal inside and have it secured, then when firing the inner matrices work on drawing the power out?"

Sophie looked over the princess' shoulder. "That may work for small arms. I'm surprised you didn't think of such back in Equestria, princess."

"As soon as the tests began I had to work on leading the armies. As much good as that helped us... Twilight was in charge of our research division but I fear she may have dictated the weapons developments to others. She would have realized this sooner."

Both griffons examined the rifle with Sophie eyeballing up just how to rework the crystals as suggested.

"This will not help with the tank, but we can try this out per your suggestion, princess," the general said.

"I am glad to be of assistance, general," Luna said with a smile. "I do hope to see the fruits of your labor soon. Working magic weapons would definitely draw New Mareland's interests. Speaking of fruits, it is almost lunch is it not?"

"Indeed, princess. Shall we go to the cafeteria then?"

Despite being at the nerve center of their magic weapons program, and just outside of Aquila, the cafeteria's offerings were basic, mediocre at worse and not much better. The pair sat at one of the tables and were given a wide berth by most of the soldiers and engineers also taking their breaks. Luna idly picked at the slop in front of her while Vivienne had no qualms in eating it.

"Is there something wrong, Luna?" the queen asked after swallowing some of her food.

"Is this meat?" Luna raised her fork with some brown chunk soaked in gravy.

"Yes, of course. You have been here for some time, have you not had any meat since arriving?" There was some genuine shock in Vivienne's voice as she dabbed her beak clean.

"I have not had meat since... a very long time. Back when food was much more scarce for the average pony."

Taking the risk, Luna placed the food into her mouth and chewed. It took a bit to get used to the flavors, reminding her of the rations she had eaten in the Great War. How the meat was bland, soaked in thin gravy. It was at least warm.

"Hmm... There is flavor, but it could use work. Some more pepper, I think. I do not want to know what this is made from."

"Many ponies do not want to know what it is, but eat it happily anyways. Strange, no? Folk can be so squeamish about food at times."

"I am surprised you are so used to this kind of food."

Vivienne smiled. "Do you think I sat in a well furnished room eating the fluffiest of pastries with coffee while directing the Reclamation Wars?"

"Did you?"

"Oh goodness no!" The queen laughed. "It is important for a leader to know what her soldiers are eating. That way we can all be miserable about the food together. That, and getting a good chef to work out there in the field is more difficult than you can imagine!"

Luna took another bite. "I find that hard to believe. For someone who loves the trappings of the nobility, relegating yourself to eating the same food as the enlisted soldier? Especially after how you reacted to the hayburger and fries when we first met. Did we not agree to be honest with one another?"

Vivienne’s face darkened slightly as she put her fork down. "I do not like that you assume I would not suffer the same conditions as my soldiers. Of course in the palaces of the nobility I expect quality and comfort but that is a different reality from war. What sort of commander would I be if I could not pitch a tent or heat up rations the same as those under my command?"

Luna looked down to her meal. "Forgive me. You just often do not have that sort of air about you."

"Well, that is true," Vivienne agreed as she picked her fork back up. "Perhaps if we both were not so busy I could prove it by taking you into the forests of Adelart, Then you could see for yourself that I am not some dainty hen."

"Your talons prove you are not very dainty at all, Vivienne."

The queen idly scooped some food into her beak. It took her a moment as her eyes lingered on Luna’s cheek. "Your cheek looks like I did not cut it at all."

Luna gave a nod as she touched a hoof to her face. "We alicorns have rather potent healing properties. Most injuries that could severely cripple a pony we can recover from after a brief rest. "

Vivienne nodded as she ate, her focus on the princess.

"There were several times in my life where a life-threatening injury healed up after some days. Of course, this does not mean I cannot get sick. Just that any illnesses that could kill me do not as the damage done is repaired."

"How fascinating. Perhaps it is good that only those like you and your sister have such a gift. To think how many absolutely awful creatures there are in the world that could bring devastation had they possessed such power. I am curious, does your blood have special properties too?"

The question didn’t surprise Luna as her eyes went to the queen’s clean talons. “We are very special creatures indeed. I have no doubt you noticed that my blood did not dry, and that it shimmered. More than that, I could not tell you. There are five alicorns in the world, and if my sister allowed any to study her blood I do not know. There was a time when it would be used for special, ancient religious rites… but it was often mixed with many other things.”

Vivienne kept looking at Luna as she gently prodded her food. “You mentioned Twilight Sparkle was head of research earlier. I am curious about that mare, she was your sister’s pupil, no?”

“Ah, I am sure anything I could say you already know from your spies.”

The queen smiled. “I want to know your thoughts. I can read a spy report but those never give the full picture of a person.”

“Put simply, Twilight was a dear friend. Due to her positions as my sister’s student and later as a fellow princess we had gotten to know each other well enough. She helped me to understand new cultural norms and to enjoy myself,” Luna couldn’t help but smile at the memories. “Nightmare Night is an old Equestrian holiday about appeasing my alter ego and we had formally met on such a night.”

Vivienne nodded. “I know of it. Many ponies here celebrate it, though with an Aquileian flair. It is very much still just a pony thing, as most griffons scoff at such notions. Were you and Twilight just friends?”

Luna raised a brow. “She was my sister’s pupil, even after her ascension anything like that would have been rather unwise. Not my type either, nor would I have fit well with her.”

“Of course, sometimes it is better to just be friends. A deep friendship is oftentimes better than a passionate romance.”

“What of your friends? I am curious to hear about them.”

Before Vivienne could reply their attention was drawn by the sound of clicking talons and shoes across the floor. A griffon assistant bowed his head to the pair, his feathers out of place and his breathing heavy. "Ah, Princess Luna, there has been an incident with Flurry Heart."

Before another word Luna’s horn flared and she disappeared in a flash.

Luna gently pressed the cool washcloth against Flurry's forehead and around her eye, even though the swelling was going away on its own well enough.

"Do you want to talk about what happened?" She asked her niece in a gentle tone, "I know Spike could tell me but I want to hear it from you."

The younger alicorn sniffled as she looked away from her aunt. In the other room Vivienne could be heard talking in a low voice with some others before she cleared her throat.

"Luna, please bring Flurry in here."

Sharing a brief look with each other the two alicorns walked into the other room, Flurry staying a bit behind Luna. Three other griffons were in there, a cub and his parents. The mother was a bit on the heavy side, while the father seemed near-sighted yet too proud for glasses with how often he was squinting. Their son wrung his hands together nervously as Spike tended to his black eye. "Now, you will tell the princess what you told me," Vivienne said to the young griffon.

His body tensed as he glanced up at Luna, the alicorn keeping a neutral expression on her face.

"I, I made fun of Flurry," he squeaked out only for his father to smack him on the back of the head.

"Tell her the truth, boy!"

"You shouldn't hit him like that!" Flurry spoke up and caught them all by surprise. "Parents shouldn't hit their children!"

Luna placed a wing over Flurry. "Shh," she tried to soothe her niece, "I would like to hear what he has to say."

Rubbing the back of his head the little griffon peeked back up at Luna. "I made fun of Flurry not having parents..." he finally confessed. "I'm sorry..."

Flurry glared at the griffon for a moment before she turned around and stomped out without a word. Luna glanced at Vivienne before she followed her niece. Spike gave the queen a polite bow before he hurried on out after the princesses.

The younger alicorn took it upon herself to head to the kitchens with Luna trailing right behind her. Upon entering, the kitchen staff made no attempts to shoo them out as lunch had already been served and clean up was almost finished. Without a word Flurry continued on her way to the freezer only for one of the staff members to block the way.

"Chocolate with whipped cream and a cherry, little princess?" the older griffon asked.

Flurry nodded solemnly.

"What of you, Princess Luna?"

"The same as my niece, thank you."

The pair sat at a table to have their ice cream when Spike hurried in, huffing as he carried Tiberius on his head. Flurry looked at them sullenly as she stirred the whipped cream and chocolate around. As Spike climbed up onto a seat to join them Tiberius crawled across the table to settle by Luna.

"I don't forgive him."

"Mm. You have that right, Flurry. I think I would have done the same in your place."

Flurry looked up at Luna. "Really?"

“Um, Luna, shouldn’t there be a lesson about forgiveness or something?” Spike asked with a furrowed brow. “At least Twilight would say something about that.”

Luna took a moment to consider, a slight frown on her face. "I am not Twilight, Spike. Nor am I my sister either. When Celestia and I were under Star Swirl's care when we were just little fillies without our cutie marks. We were made fun of for being orphans. Celestia handled herself with dignity. I bloodied their noses."

"What happened after that?" Flurry asked.

"They stopped making fun of us. Celestia tried to make amends and befriended some of them, but I refused. I suppose that was the start of it, my detachment from others.” Luna took a brief pause to gather her thoughts. “Do not keep vengeance in your heart, Flurry. You are still young, but it is good to learn to forgive others. You do not have to forgive him now, or soon, but in time perhaps."

Luna glanced at Spike and the dragon gave a slight shrug. “Close enough, princess.”

Idly her niece prodded some melting chocolate. "His father shouldn't have hit him like that either."

Luna clicked her tongue against her teeth. "Griffons have their own methods of disciplining children it seems."

"It's not right."

Gently she wrapped a wing around Flurry. "It is good that despite your feelings toward him you know he should be treated better."

They heard a sigh as Vivienne sat down with them with a glass of wine in her grasp. The queen looked to Flurry and then to Luna before she downed half her glass.

"They will not be coming back for sometime, but at least the others are going to hear that little Flurry has a mean right hoof. While violence is not to be a first resort for such disagreements, that you take the honor of your family seriously is good to see, Flurry."

"Thank you, your highness," the little alicorn demurely shied away back into her ice cream.

"Vivienne, please, do not encourage such behavior. It is not-"

"Appropriate? Perhaps not. One must know when to use force and where. But I will not fault the child. Of course, she is your charge and you are to punish her as you see fit, but do remember, both of you, that you are my guests and your actions can reflect poorly on me."

"I'm sorry," Flurry said in a not very convincing manner.

"Good enough I suppose. Perhaps the children have been cooped up in the palace for too long. We can have one of the tutors take them to the parks for a time. In a couple days, after you have thought on things."

Vivienne finished her wine in a single swig and pulled out a cigarette. Without offering one to Luna she lit it and walked off.

Spike tapped his claws against the table. “I wanted to say something, but everyone else already said something similar. I suppose it’s what Twilight would say, ‘Repetition helps with memorization!’”

Flurry frowned at her uncle. “You’re going to lecture me too?”

He crossed his arms and shook his head. “Well, I guess I might, just a little bit. Twilight did raise me for a good portion of my life after all. But, getting to the point, Flurry, there was a time where someone made me upset and angry, and I tried to get back at them in a very hurtful way. Things didn’t turn out very well, and I got really upset and ran away from home for a bit.”

“Perhaps this would be best served with some additional details, Spike,” Luna said.

“Maybe, but the point is that trying to get back at someone can be just as hurtful as whatever they did, and whatever you perceived them to be doing. It’s okay to be upset, but it’s not okay to hurt others when you are upset.”

Flurry kept stirring her melting ice cream around, eyes avoiding looking across the table. Spike hopped out of his seat and walked around to her side and opened his arms. She looked up to him briefly, his smile warm and genuine. The filly slipped down to hug him and sniffled.

“Whatever happens Flurry, we’re in this together. You’re my niece, and I’ll always be there for you, okay?”

“...Okay,” she whispered meekly.

Chapter 6

Luna stood at the other end of the table from Vivienne, the queen dressed in her military attire. Warm coffee had yet to fully settle in the alicorn’s belly as she and Vivienne were surrounded by their own little groups of officers. On Luna’s side, her support staff were mostly younger ones, freshly graduated second lieutenants from the academy, or just barely at the cusp of graduating with an even mix of griffons and ponies. She looked at the griffon queen and her entourage of older, more experienced colonels, and general Sophie.

“You have me at a disadvantage,” Luna said as she glanced at the well detailed map laid out across the table. Obvious enchantment rolled across the wood that made it difficult for Luna to see past her side of it. “Representing the fog of war? Clever.”

“You are not the only one in need of teaching, princess,” Vivienne replied with a casual shrug. “You have the brightest of the Military Academy of Vanguardigo, but engaging in war games with their peers is one thing, engaging against a more veteran force is another.”

“And there’s no force more veteran than yours, your highness!” one of the young griffons besides Luna chirped out.

“You know the rules already, princess. Talk with your high command, make your decisions, then give your orders,” As she spoke, Vivienne passed folded papers to the officers on her side.

Luna scowled as she quickly took stock of the situation on the map before her. She turned to the arrayed officers who all stood there awaiting orders. “The queen may have a head start but I must remind you all of something. Though this may just be an exercise, I need you to treat it as if it were real.”

They all saluted. “Don’t worry princess, we know the drill! The queen talon-picked us for this assignment and we’ll do our best to ensure your victory!”

Time slowly ticked away as queen and princess went back and forth, discreetly writing orders off to their subordinates to move the representative pieces over the map. The geography was rather hilly and wooded, Luna recognizing it as Aquileia’s interior. Attacks, counter attacks, probing actions and more were undertaken by the combatants to try and push the lines. Rather than go back and forth, both teams operated simultaneously, leaving them to try and react to the other.

A stalemate was steadily developing and so Luna wrote out another set of orders for her officers. They looked at her with surprise, but went to work. Vivienne peered over in brief confusion as Luna’s units were pulled back bit by bit, increasing the distance between the two forces. The queen relayed her orders and Luna suppressed showing the joy as she watched as the officers made the moves.

“I believe this ends the battle in a pyrrhic victory for you,” the alicorn said in an even tone though her eyes were alive with delight.

It took a moment for Vivienne as she began to move from her side of the table over to Luna’s, looking over the setup. A scowl formed before her features softened and she looked up. “I have taken the objective.”

“By walking directly into range of an artillery bombardment, and with my air defenses moved up enough to keep your planes away. Oh, and one more thing.” Luna gave a cheeky smile. “The enchantment is very good, but I’ve been able to see past it since before we started.”

Vivienne’s beak fell open for just a moment before she snapped it shut and let out a low chuckle. “Ah, that is cheating, princess! But, in war one must take any advantage they can, no? One battle is not enough to turn the tide, usually. Still, I should reprimand you for breaking the spirit of the game!” the queen waggled a talon.

Luna turned to the young officers on her side and bowed her head to them. “Thank you all. Continue your hard work and you will no doubt achieve great things.”

The officers bowed to Luna in return. Vivienne called for all the officers to go get some food, leaving her and Luna along. A cigarette was soon in her beak as she continued to examine the battlefield before them. While her attention was on the table she deftly pulled out another with Luna taking the butt end into her lips.

“Do not think too hard about it, Vivienne. You won, at a potentially grave cost.”

“Your officers did not challenge any of your orders.”

A thoughtful hum came from the princess. “Indeed. Did any of yours?”

“No.”

“It is because they trust us to know what we are doing, assuming that we have the intelligence necessary to pull off a battle like this,” Luna swept her wing over the table.

Vivienned frowned. “If you were cheating why did you not press your advantage to victory?”

“Truthfully? I was more focused in learning about those under my command. It is important that a leader knows their subordinates, and being thrown together with them the day of? I will sacrifice one game if it means understanding whom I will be leading in future ones.”

“And yet you still managed to maneuver me into an untenable position,” Vivienne flicked her cigarette into the ash tray as she stalked around to the other side of the table.

“I have an excellent teacher.”

The queen gave a warm smile. “You flatter me, princess.”

“It is easy to, you have many fine qualities to compliment,”

Vivienne made a slight click of her beak as she walked toward the door. “You told them to treat it seriously, yet you did not?”

“The next one I will now that I have a better grasp on how to utilize them,” the alicorn said as she moved alongside the queen. “Given how things turned out, I have a good feeling for the next encounter.”

“As your mentor I underestimated you, though I am pleasantly surprised. I will not be holding back in future encounters.”

Luna let out a gentle laugh. “I would be insulted if you did! Now, let us go and have lunch with the children. We have been awake since before sunrise.”

The four were arranged around a small table with Tiberius nestled up in Luna's mane to relax while lunch was served. Luna and Flurry nibbled on their appetizer salads while Spike and Vivienne spread chicken pate on little bits of bread.

Vivienne took a bite and let out a pleased trill. "I must applaud you, Spike. You have learned to prepare some of our dishes very well. This pate is absolutely delicious!"

"Aww, thanks your highness! I just followed the recipes, I didn't want to do anything that could ruin it. Experimentation comes after mastery!"

The queen smiled at the dragon as she took another bite.

"Flurry, how have your own studies been?" Luna asked after a sip of water.

"Fine," the younger said listlessly as she prodded her salad with a fork before eating a bit of it. She sat her utensil down, feathers trembling. "C-can I be excused?" she choked out.

Before Luna could say anything her niece burst into tears and pressed her face into the tablecloth. Vivienne let out a squawk of surprise at the filly's outburst and sat there, dumbstruck, as Flurry Heart sobbed and wailed. Luna got out of her seat to hug Flurry, wrapping her wings around her bawling niece.

In the midst of her tears, Flurry tried to choke out some words that were muffled by the tablecloth.

"I miss them too," Luna whispered as she nuzzled Flurry, her eyes shut tight with moisture beginning to leak.

Vivienne watched as Spike joined in hugging the alicorns before she quietly wiped her beak clean with a napkin. As she got out of her seat Luna looked up at her. Their eyes met for a moment before Luna looked away and nuzzled Flurry some more as the queen quietly stepped out.

In Vivienne's office some time later, Luna was sitting with the queen's book on modern warfare. The alicorn flipped the pages idly though she wasn't focused on anything inside. Still, the rustling of the paper in front of her, as well as Vivienne dealing with the work on her desk, was soothing enough for her.

"I envy little Flurry," Vivienne admitted quietly as she scanned over yet another legal document. A cigarette hung precariously in her beak, ashtray half full with fresh butts.

Luna quietly closed her book. "She's a refugee far from home with only myself and Spike as her family to help her. What is there for you to envy?"

The queen's pen slowed to a crawl then stopped. "She is close with her family. Enough to mourn them so readily."

"You still have family."

Vivienne scoffed. "Uncle Dennis whom I still have in prison for his rebellion?"

"There is still your uncle Michel. Was he not vital to shaping up the Discret Code?"

The queen looked back down at her papers and shuffled them around. "We have not spoken in many, many years."

"There is still plenty of time. It is never too late to reach out."

Their eyes met and Vivienne leaned back with a frown. Smoke wafted out of her nares as she asked, "How are you good at this? At... being so helpful?"

Luna smiled warmly. "I just try to think what my sister would do to help others. Though I am a little more straightforward than Celestia. Sometimes she likes to be vague or cryptic."

With a click of her tongue, Vivienne shifted forward a bit. She folded her talons together and set her chin on them. "What would you do, Luna? Tell me, what would you do, not what Celestia would do."

Taken aback, Luna tilted her head slightly and shut her eyes to think. The queen watched as moments ticked by before Luna shook her head. "Forgive me, the only other thing I could think of would be to surprise him with a visit."

"Mm,” was the only noise the queen made as she looked down to the work on her desk.

Luna watched Vivienne for a few moments. “Ahem. I believe we should visit your uncle.”

Vivienne looked up, eyes slightly widened and her beak twitching. “I do not think that would be a good idea. There is much work to be done.”

“Then perhaps I shall take Spike and Flurry with me and visit him instead. I am sure Duke Michel would be happy to receive us. While there I can even take a look at the shipyard expansions for you.”

The queen’s expression shifted to a scowl for a moment before she shut her beak. “Perhaps it would be good for the children to have a little break from their work. Give them a little distraction,” Vivienne signed a paper as she spoke. “The shipyard expansions have been going slower than I would like too, but of course it would not do to have a guest oversee such for me.”

Chapter 7

The modernization efforts in Aquila were already grandiose, but Spike and Flurry were awestruck at the sights of the buildings of Rila. They kept swapping from seat to seat, pointing out how large and ornate the buildings were. From the ashes of revolution was Rila reborn, many of the new buildings sporting wide balconies made for ease of flight, and lots of greenery with window-mounted gardens and the occasional copse of trees on the flat roof tops. Relief sculptures had been carved all over, even on apartments, scenes primarily of Michel leading troops to victory over the republicans.

The two children pressed their faces up against the window as they stared at the large building off in the distance, with two smaller temples flanking it. Spike’s mouth was agape at the sight of it and he looked over to Luna.

“It looks like the temples on Trinity Hill, only bigger!”

"That, dear children, is the Grand Temple of Arcturius," Luna tried to get a good look at it herself as she spoke. "Traditionally home to the Archon of Arcturius."

"Alas," Vivienne lamented, "Archon Proteus remains in Griffenheim instead."

As the car rumbled on through the fascination with the city never ceased, their jaws dropping as they saw the palace on their approach. Flurry and Spike looked to each other in amazement of the palace as they drew closer.

The palace of Michel Discret was grander even than Vivienne's own home in Aquila. A castle of sheer size and opulence that even Luna could not help but gawk at it. She turned to look at Vivienne in disbelief.

“How could someone who harbors republican sympathies live in such a place?”

Vivienne pulled out a cigarette and offered it to Luna. "I would say that it has been an ancient home, but no, it was recently built. At least uncle Michel is more reasonable than Dennis is, but he has his own eccentricities."

Luna raised a hoof to decline the offering as the car slowed to a stop. The chauffeur stepped out to open the door for them, Vivienne taking the lead. At the top of the steps, waiting for them, was Duke Michel Discret of Rila. In spite of his home he was dressed much more modestly. As modest as a duke would dress when meeting with his royal niece and her guests. Draped on his back was a great, white cloak, embroidered intricately with the Discret coat of arms. As he raised his hand to greet the group, hints of rich, purple velvet flashed from the underside of the garment. Golden jewelry flashed on his talons, multiple rings with all sorts of gems embedded along them.

"Ah, Vivi! How wonderful of you to visit me!" Michel exclaimed with his arms open as he walked down to embrace the queen in a hug, his cloak billowing behind him. "And look, you brought your lovely marefriend and her wards along as well! I know, I know, my palace is grand, don't worry, none of you will get lost! Come, come, let's eat and talk!"

As they walked up the steps Spike moved closer and gently nudged Luna. "Marefriend?"

Luna looked to him to see his brow raised and her lips curled in a playful grin. "Do you not read the papers, Spike? It is all over the news."

"I heard the rumors around, but I didn't really believe them!" Spike looked back up and lowered his voice to a whisper. "Does this mean we'll have her help when we go home?"

Luna draped her wing around him tenderly. "I hope so Spike."

Luna had not expected dinner to be so lavish. Michel did not want for anything in the grandest home anyone on Griffonia, perhaps the entire world, would ever see! Even the meals back in Aquila were more restrained as the duke went above and beyond, giving them all a full sixteen courses to savor. The smells of all the food was absolutely dizzying to experience, even as the portions came out little at a time.

It was through the third course, an assortment of various eggs, when Luna noticed Vivienne had hardly touched any of the food, yet imbibed on wine far more liberally as she listened to her uncle’s endless tirade. For his part, Michel seemed rather adamant to talk about every little thing that had happened in his life that he could recall without letting her get a word in.

"And that's when I had the entire household staff replaced. Goodness, to think the second attempt was as harrowing as it was!" Michel spoke, waving his arms around and barely keeping his wine from spilling.

From across the table Luna could see the muscles under Vivienne's feathers twitch as the queen strained to keep a polite visage even as she fetched a cigarette to light up. Michel's face twisted in slight disgust as his niece took a quick drag on her smoke.

"Ugh, such a filthy habit. It is a wonder you have drawn the eye of the princess here!"

Just as Vivienne was about to roll her eyes she took note of the slight motion Luna made with her head. Cooly the queen took out another cigarette and offered it, which Luna accepted. Then she leaned over the table and Vivienne followed suit, using the burning cherry of hers to light up Luna's and then the pair sat back in their seats.

Michel clicked his beak at that and took a swig of his wine. “The Discret Art Institute in Aquila is having its grand gallery opening, yet I have not heard of your involvement, Vivi.”

The queen gave her uncle a half-lidded gaze, her smile so thin it threatened to break. “I had hoped to leave the honor to you, uncle. You always seemed so much more interested in art. Didn’t you have some new portraits commissioned?”

He clapped and nodded. “I did! They’ve been hard at work for the past week! How sad I could not donate more to the opening, I had to settle for sending some of the older statues from the Grand Temple after replacing them. You see…” Michel prattled on.

Vivienne steadily emptied her fourth glass of wine.

"What a boor!" Vivienne slurred out as she cleaned off her makeup in the bathroom. The vanity top had talon scratches across it as she leaned over it to keep steady. "And the nerve, assuming to have us sleep in the same bedroom!"

"You should have said something to him sooner then, if sharing a bed with me is such an onerous task," came the princess’ dry remark.

Luna watched in amusement as Vivienne stumbled out of the bathroom, not fully cleaned up and half-undressed, the feathers on her head out of place as her blonde wig lay on the floor. With a scowl the hen approached uneasily over to the too-soft bed and crawled onto it.

"Do not tell me what I should have done, it was your idea to come here in the first place! And wipe that smirk off of your face!"

Luna’s ears wilted back and she looked away from Vivienne. The queen groaned as she rolled onto her back and lifted her arms up to the ceiling.

"No, no, it is not your fault, Luna. I had hoped that things would go better than they did. Eh. Perhaps the next few days..."

Luna let out a little sigh as she rubbed at her forehead. "Perhaps. Now, do forgive me, but I must contact my sister. All that information I have been reading on the Herzland I mean to give to her."

The queen blinked owlishly as she looked at Luna upside down and her arms hit the bed with a soft thump. "How?"

"Oh, I never did tell you? I can walk the realm of dreams. I used to do it to help my subjects with their nightmares, but..."

Vivienne made a slight noise as she rolled back over onto her stomach. "Well, go on then. I will likely be asleep when you are finished," she muttered as she closed her eyes, laying right in the middle of the bed.

As she focused her magic, Luna could feel her consciousness slowly slip away from reality as she fell into the fuzzy daze, her body going somewhat numb to the feeling of prickly needles across her skin. She could still hear and see into the real world even as her hooves touched down into the morass of the dreamscape, the dreams of those sleeping across Griffonia twinkling like stars.

As the dreamscape came more and more into focus she felt her body lose sensation as she fully manifested her consciousness into the realm. She took flight into the sky to find the golden light of her sister sleeping soundly and upon finding it exactly where she expected it to be she flew towards it with a smile.

"Celestia!" Luna screamed as she jolted out of the dreamscape.

Vivienne let out a squawk of surprise from being awoken by the alicorn's scream as Luna scrambled off of the bed toward the balcony. As soon as her hooves touched the carpet she yelped as her tail was in the firm grasp of Vivienne.

"Maar's marrow Luna! Calm yourself, now!" she slurred out, face contorted in confused anger.

"It's my sister, she’s in danger!"

Luna briefly teleported out of Vivienne's grasp and continued toward the balcony in her panic.

"Do you even know where she is?"

The question made her stumble a bit before she continued. "Somewhere in the Herzland!"

"Luna!" Vivienne snapped. "Stop and think, you stupid mare!"

The harsh command did have Luna pause in her motions, ears pinned back and front hoof pawing at the floor. Vivienne stumbled over to the princess and firmly wrapped her arms around Luna's barrel. "You have no idea where Celestia is, you would be leaving in the middle of the night and make me have to tell Flurry Heart and Spike where you ran off to!"

She froze at that then sat down, which forced Vivienne to follow. Vivienne proceeded to slur out several expletives until she dropped to mumbling. Luna felt the queen’s face against her side as Vivienne had drifted back to sleep. After waiting to ensure that the hen was sound asleep she gently lifted Vivienne in her magic and tucked her to bed. She sat and watched as Vivienne rolled over, then she turned to the balcony.

Upon opening the door she let the cool night air wash over her, her stars twinkling up above. Luna stood there and kept her focus on the moon and sun, searching for any signs of Celestia's own magic. A faint wisp of it could be felt on that burning orb on the other side of the world and she let out an anxious whinny.

"She must be gravely wounded... Oh sister, please be all right."

She walked around the room, too restless to try and sleep. Instead she hoped to distract herself by inspecting the room more thoroughly. It was much more ornate than the one back at Vivienne's palace, a clear sign that despite his sympathies, Michel was even more decadent and obsessed with wealth. Exotic woods used in all the furniture and walls, a chandelier with what she suspected to be diamonds to diffract the light, a carpet so soft and plush one could use it as a bed.

Her eyes drifted to the wardrobe for a moment, its design nearly exact to the one she had been gifted on her return. With her hooves brushing across the carpet she felt a sting in her eyes, where on that night she was held in white wings as she cried herself to sleep on the floor. Even the bed’s sheer size would have fit her elder sister comfortably.

Stomach twisted in worry she cast herself back into the dreamrealm. The grand golden beacon that was her sister was nowhere to be found in the mist-laden alternate world instead an untold number of nightmares filled her vision. Despite the geography being different, the deluge of nightly terrors struck her to her core; not unlike what she had seen in Equestria as the Great War raged on.

Luna set off to where she had last seen Celestia in this world. Though unfamiliar with this part of the world she still had a vague idea of where to find her sister. As she hovered over the collection of dreams in the tightly cloistered forest she noted the roiling torment of one, greater than the others. Though nothing about it was familiar to her, the anguish roiling off of it drew the moon princess down and into the dream.

Slowly she pulled out of the dream, the waters of it placid now. The other dreams around had shrunk down, some gone completely. In the gentle fog of the dream realm the light of the moon caused flashes like the twinkling of stars. “Sleep well, Diellza,” she whispered as she took off.

Luna took a few moments to scan around but there was no golden shimmer to catch her eye. With an ache in her heart she tearfully turned her focus back to Rila. Returning to where her physical body lay, another nightmare was nearby. A dark sphere of roiling smoke. She racked her mind for who it could be. She took stock of her surroundings in the dream realm and there was but one she could think to have such. Curious at whatever could make the queen frightful, she hovered above the dreamsphere. Gently she lowered her horn down to touch it.

Dreams had their own ‘taste’, unique to the individual as well as the emotions fueling it. The sour taste of fear was prominent, with underlying currents of anger and humiliation. Luna let out a snort, then shook her head. The smell of smoke filled her nostrils. It was the greasy smoke of war, and around her was rubble. The sky was dim as evening came along, the light of the stars being choked out as the city burned. Even the moon, her prison at that time, could scarcely be seen in its ascent.

Aquila, in the year of Grover II's razing.

Grand buildings had been brought down, the Aquileian fleet set to burn in the harbor. Citizens were being forced out of their homes with whatever they could carry. Many of them were indistinct as expected, so far from the center of the dream. Wings spread, Luna took flight to try and find the dreamer. She could see ruins on Trinity Hill and flew over toward the destroyed temples.

Standing among the ruins was a massive griffon wearing a crown and wearing the thickest armor she'd ever seen, a priest, and Vivienne. Luna landed gently nearby as the priest, an overweight looking griffon constantly wiping his brow of sweat, tried to perform the marriage vows. The priest kept stuttering while under the harsh gaze of the larger griffon, gripping his tome like a shield.

As the priest stammered toward the end, Luna's hoof clopped loudly against the stonework underneath. "You are not Giselda."

“My father is dead, who else can I be?” came the meek reply.

Another firm crack of hoof against stone. “You are not Giselda.”

“I am the prettiest young hen in all Aquileia, unmarried and royal. Who else am I?” The hen’s voice still wavered.

“Vivienne, look at me.”

The dream seemed to freeze as the hen looked over her shoulder to Luna. Their eyes met, and the roiling emotions of fear and anger melted away into relief. After a moment she reluctantly broke away to look up at the dream facsimile of Grover II.

"I am not," Vivienne affirmed as she wrenched her talons from his. "I am not Giselda, princess forced to marry the griffon whom ruined Aquila. I am Vivienne, queen of Aquileia!"

The dream Grover snarled as his features twisted. “Who are you, little hen, to deny the Empire what it’s owed? The Reichsarmee will march through the forests and hills of Aquileia once more to burn this city to ash and see you hanging like the traitor you are!”

“I am Queen Vivienne Discret!” she replied, her voice beginning to waver as the phantasm loomed over her.

“He is representative of your fears. I cannot banish him for you, but I am here for you,” Luna said as she came beside Vivienne.

A cloak of midnight feathers draped over the griffon queen and she stood up straight with a glower at Grover II. The giant took in a deep breath and unleashed an ear-splitting screech right into Vivienne’s face. Her own screech met his and her talons pierced through his right eye.

Slowly everything dissolved away, the ruins being replaced brick by brick by an Aquila Luna was far more familiar with, the fires of war replaced by the glowing lights of the city nightlife. Vivienne sat down and rubbed at her face as she let out a weary sigh.

"How often do you have this dream?"

The queen was frazzled, feathers out of place and panting heavily. "Too often, Luna. Too often. It is always the same thing. I am dragged by Imperial soldiers here and forced to go through the wedding."

Luna glanced at the 'rebuilt' temples, then back to Vivienne. "You need not suffer from ghosts of the past, especially ones with little bearing on your future."

Vivienne grew quiet and when she spoke it was in a low whisper. "He had several children with Princess Giselda and placed his son Grant onto the Aquileian throne when he became of age. Then his son took the Discret name to honor his grandmother when he rose to dukedom. It was not until the Empire collapsed in which our family finally proclaimed independence once more. Little Grover has a rightful claim on my throne, it is only a matter of time before it is pressed."

Luna sat next to Vivienne as they looked out onto the dream-Aquila. With her wing still around the queen she moved in a little closer and the hen pressed up to her in kind, tattered fabric against coat.

"Why are you here, princess?"

"I went in search of my sister in the world of dreams and could not find her. On my way back, I noticed your dream was one in turmoil. Was I to let it continue when I could have helped?"

She felt Vivienne shift and give a little nip with her beak. "I did not ask for help... but thank you."

Author's Note

A little Christmas gift for everyone! I'll be taking a wee break from weekly uploads for the holidays and whatnot and hope you all have a happy new year!

Interlude

The ancient catacombs of Aquila were one of its most famous landmarks. Stretching underneath most of the city, much of it were ossuaries filled with bones of griffon and pony alike. Workers crawled through the tunnels in swarms, ants whose queen was nestled elsewhere, checking the stonework, the foundations, and even the bones to ensure they were secure. Even with all the work in progress a mature, graying griffon hen led a little flock of griffon cubs, pony foals, and one dragon along a marked path.

“During the First Revolution the catacombs were where many loyalists like my brave parents would hide as the Republicans ran roughshod over our fair nation. They have a long and storied history stretching back to the very founding of the city itself when-”

Flurry glanced at Spike and then across the little crowd to one particular griffon. When their eyes met the griffon shied away. She leaned a little toward her uncle to whisper.

“Why is he here?”

“You know why, you’re supposed to at least be able to tolerate his presence,” Spike whispered back. “His parents are well respected, so Vivienne needs them to be able to come to the palace once in a while.”

“-and Grover II ordered the catacombs off limits to his army-”

With her mind elsewhere, Flurry could only hear snippets of her teacher’s prattling. “Let me guess, everyone else is here to make sure I don’t hit him again.”

“Pretty much, yeah… It was my idea,” Spike admitted, “I thought maybe meeting others in a big group that’s not a formal thing would make it easier for you to make friends.”

Flurry let out a snort. “I don’t want to make friends in Aquileia. We’re not living here.”

Spike shook his head. “Twilight would be disappointed to hear that, Flurry.”

“Aunt Twilight isn’t here!” Flurry snapped.

Her ears pinned back as the noises around her ceased as the others stared at her. She glanced up to see her tutor adjust her glasses.

“Flurry Heart, is there something you’d like to share?”

“No Madame Boulanger,” she said meekly as her hoof stomped against the ground a few times.

The hen frowned. “Very well then. As I was saying, during the Second Revolution these catacombs were a refuge for many republicans, an ironic twist from the First Revolution-”

Flurry continued walking along with the group, tuning out the tutor as her hooves tapped against the ground, taking the time to do a double tap against the cold stone floor. Her wings twitched as she swiveled her ears this way and that.

“What are you doing?” Spike whispered.

“There’s a little wind, but it’s not a cross breeze. I’m trying to find out where it’s coming from,” Flurry whispered back.

“Why?”

“It’s bothering me, there’s something really familiar about it?”

“This way, children, it’s almost lunch time.”

The ancient catacombs had many entrances throughout the city, and each one usually had a cafe close by for tourists after their walks through the underground. As the children gathered and sat at tables and on benches, Flurry and Spike had set themselves apart. While they ate their lunches, Flurry could not stop from glaring at the nervous griffon that approached.

“Hey there Louis! Come to join us?” Spike said with a smile to try and ease the young griffon’s nervousness.

He tucked his wings in as he avoided looking at Flurry. “Um, yeah. I wanted to talk about the wind in the tunnels. I felt it too.”

Flurry squinted suspiciously at him. “What do you know about it?”

“Father works in the weather business, I’ve learned a lot of things. That was a winter wind down below. You felt it, I know you did, I saw how you used your feathers!” Louis said, bouncing on his hind legs in excitement.

Flurry chewed on a spinach leaf. “And you want to come with us back down?”

Spike scratched his head. “Back down? We’re done with the catacombs Flurry, we’re supposed to see the old fort next.”

She gave Spike an amused look. “I meant after dinner tonight. Aunt Luna and the queen are busy with their game stuff so it’ll be easy to sneak out.”

“I don’t know…”

“Can I come?” Louis asked. “I want to know why there’s a winter wind under the city!”

The alicorn regarded the griffon carefully. “Well, I guess. You can use your magic to keep track of it while I use my earth pony magic to guide us around.” Flurry glanced around. “We can meet up here, I can see the palace over there. Do you think you can get here by yourself Louis?”

“Um, I can try.” He spread his wings out a little. “I’ve been practicing my flying so I think I can find my way here.”

“Great. After supper then.”

Flurry nudged open the door to her balcony and lifted her front hooves up onto the railing to look out to the city beyond. Her wings spread out slowly and she gave a few flaps only to draw them back into her sides as a knocking came from the bedroom door.

The familiar voice of her aunt could be heard on the other side. “Flurry, may I come in?”

“You may,” Flurry said as she stepped down from the railing and back into the room as Luna walked inside.

Flurry bit the inside of her cheek as Luna had a very subtle smattering of makeup applied to her face along with her hair done up.

“Weren’t you and the queen doing your war thing?”

“We were, yes, but things ended early. An operational pause, one would call it. So we are taking a break to gather our thoughts.”

“You’re going out.”

Flurry’s ear twitched at her aunt’s gentle laugh. “She had been invited to an opera earlier in the week but did not let them know if she would attend until tonight. I wanted to wish you a good night before I left.”

She pouted up at Luna. “Can we go to the opera sometime?”

Luna leaned down and nuzzled Flurry. “We shall. Remember to wash up before bed and to brush your teeth. Goodnight Flurry, I love you.”

“I love you too aunt Luna,” she replied as she gave a dutiful kiss to the older alicorn's cheek.

After the door closed Flurry placed her ear against it, listening to the muffled sound of Luna’s hooves against the carpeting. As the sound drifted further and further away she pulled away and trotted back to the balcony. She hopped up onto the railing, large wings spread out to maintain her balance. Flurry scurried along the railing and hopped over to the next balcony, hooves sliding effortlessly along the metal before she dropped down and swiftly tapped on the door.

The curtains pulled back slightly and a familiar green eye peered at Flurry for a moment before Spike pulled the curtains aside and opened the door.

“You’re really going back to the catacombs?” he asked as he crunched down on a gem.

“Yeah! You’re coming with me, right? Aunt Luna is going out to the opera so we can be clear for a few hours.”

Spike furrowed his brow for just a moment. “All right, just let me get some things before we go.” As he turned around, Flurry’s ear twitched as she heard him mutter “Luna going to the opera? She hates Aquileian operas.”

He came back out with a little pack strapped to his side. “Some snacks because I don’t want to hear you complain about being hungry while we’re down there,” he explained as he worked his wings.

Together they took off into the night sky, flying side by side and going high above the rooftops. Most of the griffons below didn’t notice the pair, the glow of the city lights a dim yellow for those illuminating the walkways and bright white at the store fronts and apartments. Spike landed unevenly on a roof, the claws of his feet scrambling across clay tiles, one cracking.

“Oops.”

Flurry landed beside him, her hooves settling without issue. “What’s wrong?”

He flexed his wings a little. “I haven’t used these in a while, so it’s kind of awkward. The muscles aren’t as flexible as they used to be.”

Flurry craned her head to look over the edge of the roof. “When was the last time you flew?” she asked as she turned her attention back to her uncle.

“Oh, geeze, I don’t remember. Definitely before the war…” Spike fetched out a small gem and popped it into his mouth, crunching on it. “I should be good now!”

With a nod, Flurry spread her wings out and took off with Spike following right after, the pair continuing on their way.

They descended down across the street from the cafe, Louis already there and nibbling on a pastry. He waved to them as they landed.

“You’re here! Great. The catacombs are supposed to be closed off at night, but I looked around and there doesn’t seem to be anyone actually keeping an eye on the entrance.”

“It’s probably locked,” Spike pointed out, “If they don’t want folks running around underground at night.”

“Or maybe the queen has her ‘little owls’ keeping watch,” Flurry said as she trotted on over toward the catacomb entrance.

“La Chouette?!” Louis squawked out as his head spun around.

“Come on Louis,” Flurry snapped at him as she tapped her hoof against the ancient oaken door. “Hmm, it is locked.”

“Well, I guess that means we should probably go back to the palace-” Spike was cut off as Flurry’s horn lit up and the door opened soundlessly, her golden aura encompassing the entirety of it.

“I’d sneak snacks out of the kitchen pantries back in Sunset all the time,” she explained with a cheery tone as her hooves clip-clopped down the stairs into the dark tunnels below..

With a groan Spike followed after her, and with another nervous glance around Louis scrambled in as well. As soon as Louis had passed the threshold to the catacombs the door silently swung shut.

Flurry’s horn illuminated the passageway in a dim, golden light as her hooves gently tapped against the ground.

“Can you concentrate on your unicorn and earth pony magic at once?” Spike asked. He looked at the skulls embedded along the wall, the light of Flurry’s magic making them look like priceless artifacts waiting to be plucked by enterprising thieves rather than bone remains.

“Of course. A basic light spell is nothing. It’s the earth pony bit that’s a little more difficult,” Flurry explained in between taps of her hoof. “I don’t think aunt Celestia or Luna remember anything about using it. Louis! You’re searching for that wind, right?”

“O-oh, yeah!” the griffon stammered out as he spread his wings slightly. He raised the left and lowered the right, then alternated them. “This place is creepy without anyone else around.”

“It’s just a bunch of old bones, there’s nothing to be afraid of!” Spike assured him, even as he looked over his shoulder into the darkness they left behind.

They walked along slowly until Louis let out a chirp of surprise sped up to walk beside Flurry. “I feel it now, we need to go right up here.”

Flurry paused for a moment and tapped her hooves against the ground. “Hmm. Okay, we go right.”

“What are you doing anyways?” Louis asked as they turned, more empty skulls staring along the walls.

“Marking our path so we can find our way back. Leave a bit of magic behind, sorta like leaving a bread trail, except more reliable.”

Louis flitted a wing, keeping track of the thin, chill wind. “Where’d you learn that?”

Flurry bit her lip. “Earth pony Royal Guard trick,” she said. “How far do you think the wind goes?”

“Oh, that kind of thing is almost impossible to figure out. I’m working mainly on where its flow is coming from. It’s so slight, if it wasn’t for my weather education I’d probably have missed it. It’s funny, it definitely feels like a winter wind, but it doesn’t make any sense unless someone was making it.”

They came up to an intersection, the catacomb path splitting off in three other directions. Louis stepped forward, wing raised high. He circled around slowly with intense concentration before he lowered both wings.

“This way, the breeze is getting a little stronger and colder.”

Flurry and Spike followed after Louis as he led them along, the tunnels deathly quiet save for the sound of their feet against the ground. Time rolled by as they came to another intersection.

“Wait,” Flurry said as she tapped at the ground. “We’ve been here before.”

“What?” Spike looked around, eyes narrowed. “How can you tell?”

She rolled her eyes. “The magic trail I’ve been leaving behind!” she squeaked out in annoyance. “We came back to the four-way path from before.”

“B-but,” Louis gulped, “we kept going straight after that right turn!” His wings twitched, feathers gone askew.

Flurry turned around as she kept tapping her hooves on the ground. “We did. These catacombs aren’t known for being magical.”

“T-they were known for being a holy place to M-Maar,” Louis stammered out as he paced around, his tail fidgeting.

With a roll of her eyes Flurry walked over and nudged Louis firmly. “You don’t believe those old tales, do you?”

A whistle of chill wind blew by them and the cold bit through the layers of feathers, hair, and scales.

“Not until tonight,” the griffon whispered with a shiver as his pupils shrank.

Flurry looked down the dark corridor, her eyes widened from what she had felt in the freezing breeze. Hooves clopped noisily against stone as she trotted down the path the wind came from. Spike and Louis scrambled right behind her, calling for her to wait just a moment but she was too focused on finding where the wind came from. The familiarity of the cold had wrapped around her heart and was the force pulling her along.

The wind whistled in her ears, the cold wreathed her wings. So intent was she on following the path that everything else was shut out, the winding tunnels of the bone-laden catacombs twisting this way and that. As she ducked down through a narrow passageway the ancient door slowly swung shut behind her. Flurry galloped so far ahead that she couldn’t hear the panic from her uncle as Spike tried to pry open the door in every way he could.

The muscles in her legs ached as she stumbled along, her lungs seared from exertion. Flurry’s thoughts were muddled and her head swam as her pace slowed down. She leaned against a wall, only to yelp as stone and bone crumbled away. With a scream she tumbled over, the wall having given way to a slope. Hooves scrambled to find purchase against the smooth stone but failed to grab hold. Her wings spread, only for the narrow way to keep her from being able to stall.

When the slope ended and the floor began Flurry rolled a little further before coming to a complete stop. She groaned as she stood up, legs shaky from the adrenaline. Panting, she swung her head around, horn alight with magic. The path continued just a small way to a simple iron door. Flurry turned and looked up the long slope, then there was a bang behind her. With a jump she turned and fired off a wild shot of pure magic at the now open iron door. As the golden aura disappeared into the darkness a gust of icy wind came from the opening.

The chill wrapped around her like a blanket and Flurry Heart accepted it, her wings opening for just a moment before they folded back. Her hooves tapped lightly against the stone floor as she walked forward through the open door and it quietly shut behind her.

Flurry looked around the room. There was little furniture, most of it having collapsed from dry rot long ago. Unlike the rest of the catacombs, no bones were set in the walls. Mosaics of ancient scenes she could not even begin to know about lined the walls. She lifted her head up and the light of her magic illuminated a large statue of old marble. A raven griffon, swathed in a large cloak.

She sat down as her gaze was drawn to the marble before her. “You’re Maar, aren’t you?” she asked as she tried to catch her breath.

Silence.

“Aunt Luna said that you don’t talk to us, but I’ve still tried,” Flurry said as she kicked a front hoof against the ground. “I prayed to Boreas because he’s the king, so maybe he’d help us princesses, but then that letter came for aunt Celestia and she left us.”

“I prayed to Arcturius because he’s the god of war, so maybe he’d help us get our home back! But then the letter from the queen came to aunt Luna.”

Flurry wiped away tears forming in her eyes. “I prayed to Eyr to bring my family back together, then aunt Luna told me we were coming here.”

She looked up and sniffled. “I guess you might not want to help if I ask because I tried all the others first, but I could really use your help! P-please Maar, I just want to see my mom and dad again!” Flurry choked out. “A-and aunt Twilight too, and grandma and grandpa and and a-and I know you’re the god of death and all b-but if you could c-could you keep them alive long enough for m-me to see them again?”

Soft sobs echoed in the room, wrapped in her own sorrow that she didn’t notice the wings embracing her.

“You gave Spike quite a scare little filly,” Luna chided gently.

Flurry looked up, tears trickling down her cheeks. “A-aunt Luna?”

“Let us return to the palace, it has been a long night for you.”

Luna gently scooped Flurry up onto her back and disappeared with a flash.

Within a moment they were back at Flurry’s room at the palace and Luna gently pulled the covers on the bed back to set Flurry in. She carefully stroked the younger alicorn’s mane with a wing as her horn glowed. Flurry watched as Luna gently tucked her into the bed sheets, the moon princess humming softly.

“I’m sorry.”

“You have to apologize to Spike for running off on him like that,” Luna said as she made sure the blankets were folded correctly.

“I’m sorry for sneaking out,” Flurry corrected.

Luna looked at her niece and smiled. “I am not upset about you sneaking out,” she said as she kissed Flurry’s forehead. “My sister no doubt would be, but that is why we will not tell her. It is good that you have made up with Louis.”

Once satisfied that her niece was tucked in properly Luna walked towards the door. “No more escapades without telling me first, okay Flurry?”

“...Okay.”

Their eyes met and Luna smiled. “Goodnight Flurry, I love you.”

“Goodnight aunt Luna, I love you too.”

The light went out as Luna slipped through the door. Flurry rolled onto her side and stared out to the balcony. The balcony door creaked open and she could feel a cold wind embrace her even through the layers of bed sheets. The same chill she felt as a newborn, when she shattered the Crystal Heart. She drifted off to sleep, tears turning to frost on her cheeks.

She dreamed of home.

Author's Note

Wow did this chapter take me a while to finish up! Thankfully the rest of the story will not take nearly as long to get out, haha!

Chapter 8

The Art Institute of Aquila was recently built, and surprisingly modest, given its grand government grants. Ponies and griffons of high society from across the kingdom had arrived, some Luna recognized from the party but many more new faces to try and keep track of. As she and Vivienne walked up the steps her ears swiveled this way and that at the gossiping.

“Didn’t she wear that at the party?”

“You’d think the queen would have supplied her with any number of dresses!”

“Wearing the same dress twice, must be an Equestrian thing!”

There was a nudge and a soft whisper. “The night sky is constant, they would never deny its beauty. What a waste it would be for you to not wear this dress as often as you would like.”

She turned her head slightly and smiled. Rather than a dress, Vivienne wore a suit jacket with trousers, styled similarly to her uniform but different enough to be for non-military formal occasions.

“And you look dashing. More of a tom than a hen, but given you are queen, rags could be all you wear and they would not say a thing about it.”

Vivienne trilled out a laugh as they continued up to the top of the steps. Duke Michel Discret was already there, chatting animatedly with a small crowd and doing his best not to let anyone else say a word as he prattled on.

“Almost all of the statues I’ve personally donated, they’re all from my private collection you see and- Oh, Vivi, Princess Luna! How delightful that you’ve both arrived!”

As he detached from the crowd toward them Luna could already feel a small swell of pressure begin to form in her temples. Her fake smile strained as Michel stopped and looked her over.

“You already wore that dress, didn’t you? Hmm. Well, it is a nice dress I suppose.” He brought his talons together in a clap. “So much art from all around Griffonia is on display, and all about our wonderful family! Shall we start in the statue gardens? I’ve brought many from Rila!”

Luna’s headache proceeded as a dull throb as she and Vivienne walked through a garden of statues that were just Michel or Aquileian soldiers in similar poses over and over as he pointed out which ones were made when and on what date he had acquired them. As he droned on and on she shifted her gaze to Vivienne who presented a cigarette to her.

“Ah, Your Highness, there is no smoking allowed in the museum.”

Vivienne nearly lept out of her skin as the head curator had seemingly appeared from behind one of the statues. Swiftly she regained her composure and stared at the older griffon right in the eyes with a frown.

“Is there a fine for such?” she asked as her unlit cigarette dangled precariously in her beak.

“Yes, it’s-”

Vivienne swiftly lit hers up before moving in to light Luna’s in a faux kiss. “Send the bill to the palace,” she said with a puff of smoke as she and Luna strutted away.

“Vivienne!” Michel called out as he scrambled after them. “That was quite rude-”

They both turned to face him with Vivienne draping a wing over Luna. “Uncle,” she said in a sharp tone. “As queen is it not my prerogative to flaunt my privileges when I please?”

“Well, yes-”

“Then I shall smoke where it is forbidden while the princess and I enjoy our date uninterrupted.”

“Oh yes, of course my niece.” Michel gave a hasty bow before he retreated. Once he had disappeared a plume of smoke filled where his head had been.

Luna gave Vivienne a slight nudge. “You took restraint from just blowing smoke in his face.”

“Oh, I would never do that. Uncle Michel is a boor but he is not completely despicable!”

The pair continued back into the museum proper, more eyes drawn as they brazenly smoked side by side. Luna’s shoes clicked against the marble floor as they started down a hall of artworks depicting the Discret’s military achievements, from the ancient Aquileian kings prior to them joining the folds of the Empire to Vivienne’s recent victories.

Luna’s gaze was drawn to one painting, with three griffon kings. “The Battle of Three Kings” was its title, but two of them were kneeling before Grover I who held the Idol of Boreas over them. The flags of ancient Aquileia and Wingbardy laid at his feet as his Imperial standard flew above. She raised a brow then turned to see Vivienne’s attention to the painting across the hall.

The princess approached and looked over the painting, titled "The Liberation of Pridea", of the infamous port city during Dennis Discret's assault on the republicans. Buildings blasted apart, little soldiers scurrying about haphazardly, with a single ship dominating the foreground with the silhouette of Dennis at the prow.

"Your uncle's retaking of Pridea was not a gentle affair."

"No, it was not. Even now the city bears the scars of his cruelty. You would think it was Grover II that was responsible."

Luna glanced over and saw a bitter smile on Vivienne's face before the queen turned to continue along. She followed after, her head turning this way and that to see more paintings of events across Griffonia, past and present. Stylization of the creation of the griffons with the four gods each giving their gift to their children, Grover the Great using the Idol of Boreas to bring the Herzland to heel, Grover II's death at the hands of a Nimbusian hoplite, and many lesser events as well.

She stopped to look at the painting of Vivienne's coronation, and the queen stopped in her steps to look back. Luna saw just how odd it seemed, as if the event had no planning at all. The painting exuded haste, even Vivienne’s clothing in the painting were something she’d wear on a day out.

"Ah, that day was not very important," Vivienne said dismissively as she sidled up to try and nudge Luna away..

"It was at the palace mere days after your father's death. Many thought you would be in mourning."

"We all had important work to do, and I already told you, there was no love between us."

The queen gently led Luna away to further explore the works held in the museum, coming across another array of statues.

“Ah, uncle Michel must have had them moved here away from his vanity projects. Look at how many there are! A shame they have been pushed into a corner like this and not a main attraction.”

"My sister and I ruled for nigh on a century before the doubts crept in," Luna commented quietly to Vivienne as she looked at a cracked statue of the war god Arcturius, a blacksmith hammer in his grasp. "Was not easy, bringing forth the night only for my subjects to shun it. Back then it made sense, so many monsters in the dark, and yet..."

"Your attempts to garner my sympathy so I open up to you will not work," came a terse reply.

Luna grimaced as she turned to look at a different statue. "I am merely-"

"You are merely trying to connect on a level neither of us are comfortable with."

"Then why did you invite me to the opera last week and to here today?"

Their eyes met briefly before Vivienne’s gaze shied away. "We cannot go too deep in things, princess, but the people deserve a show, no?"

"Ah. Letting others think things run deeper than they do, Huntress?"

Vivienne turned and made a dismissive gesture with her talons. "We can be honest with each other, but not to the masses."

Before she continued after her, Luna touched a hoof to her cheek, remembering when those talons had sliced her. Just as she was to follow after the queen her eyes moved to one statue off in a far corner. The familiarity was instant; the statue of Maar Flurry had found in the catacombs. A chill went down her spine and she could not fathom why.

With a shake of her head she trotted after Vivienne to another exhibit, passing by more groups of the wealthy, influential, and noble, more than Luna had seen at the party. Just as they were to pass the threshold to the next exhibit Vivienne promptly turned around and collided with the princess, beak and snout awkwardly bumping into each other. Vivienne nearly fell backwards before she recovered and gave Luna an awkward smile.

"Oh, I forgot to talk to some folk, please, this way," she said as she moved past the alicorn.

Luna looked in confusion as Vivienne walked by before she glanced back to the other exhibit and saw a painting of a familiar hen. She took a moment to examine the painting from a distance then she turned back around to join the queen with the other minglers.

Time seemed to whiz past as she spoke with the others while with Vivienne, learning dozens of new names and hearing three times as many opinions on things. While it was quite familiar, the various movers and shakers of the art world actually asking for, and listening to, her opinions was a joy.

"It feels a little indulgent for an exhibit to be primarily about the Discret family, doesn't it, your highness?" A noblehen asked as she motioned toward the exhibit hall that the queen had avoided.

"Oh it was not my idea! I am merely here to show my support for the new museum, the gallery all about my family was a surprise though many of my little ponies seem to enjoy it," Vivienne smiled as she sipped a glass of wine.

"I only had a glance, but that portrait of Vivienne you can see from the gallery entrance is quite exquisite."

Vivienne stiffened up at Luna's words while the other griffons and ponies in their company chuckled.

"Oh no, that's poor Princess Giselda," an older griffon said as he adjusted his glasses. "She and the queen are spitting images of one another aren't they? The resemblance is uncanny!"

The queen gave a strained smile and nodded. "Like sisters separated by time, no? Ah, but I fear that the princess and I must away. I am tutoring her, you see, and lessons are to begin soon."

After saying their farewells the pair walked out of the museum, down the steps and back to the car to be carried off to the palace. Once they were both situated Vivienne started puffing on a cigarette.

"I am sorry. I did not mean to make things uncomfortable."

Vivienne took in a deep breath and closed her eyes. "I know you did not, my Lune."

Biting her lip, Luna took a risk. "You are afraid of history repeating. A king, dead. An empire proving it is not weak."

The queen snapped her attention to the alicorn and scowled. "I will not be some prize to be claimed in the ruins of my beautiful country."

"Archon Eros is more likely to have you hanged than betrothed to Grover."

Smoke steadily wafted from the hen's nares as she turned her attention out the window. "If the world were to descend upon us, would you protect me?"

"I..."

"It is okay to say no,” Vivenne weakly whispered. “I would not for you, I do not think."

Luna moved from her seat to sit next to Vivienne, the queen not moving as the alicorn pressed against her side. “I already had to abandon many and it still pains me. Given the choice, I would do my utmost to protect you.” the princess said softly.

Vivienne firmly pushed her back, a tremble in her limbs. “Luna, please. In the public eye such closeness is fine, but not here.”

After she scooted back a bit, Luna observed Vivienne as the queen kept her gaze firmly out the window. “Tell me what you are afraid of.”

A blue eye glanced at Luna before its gaze went back out the window. “Reality came crashing down around me after you helped me with my nightmare. I felt so safe, so secure, like never before, and it was because of the actions of another, the presence of another.”

“And that frightens you, because you have never felt like you could rely on another so intimately before.”

Vivienne made no reply and Luna sidled back up to her, a wing going around the griffon queen. With some shifting she could feel the smaller hen bury her face in against Luna’s neck. Gently Luna tapped on the partition and told the driver not to stop until told to.

The queen looked up to the princess, feathers around her neck puffed out slightly, her blonde wig slightly askew. "And you, Luna, what frightens you?"

"Knowing that if we continue like this that I will someday lose you. I have lost much already, but I still find myself eager to pursue this path. Bravery, after all, is to act in spite of our fear."

“If you keep too close I may be afraid of wanting you to never break away.”

“All things must come to an end, Vivi. But we can, and should, savor the good for as long as possible.”

Luna felt Vivienne’s arms wrap around her barrel. “You need this as much as I,” the griffon whispered as she held the pony close in a shaky grasp.

Those ever sharp talons wound up cutting through the fabric of Luna’s dress and she could feel the prickling against her skin. The sensation made her straighten slightly as she tenderly wrapped her hooves around Vivienne. Warmth filled her, the feeling of hugging the queen so familiar, and yet so different from embraces with her sister and other dear friends. With steady breaths she could feel a tingle to her nose of Vivienne’s perfume, subtle and sweet, so unlike the queen herself. Time stood still for the pair, even as the motor carriage rumbled through the streets of Aquila.

Vivienne’s beak gently preened the soft coat along Luna’s neck, the princess gently tilting her head this way and that until she looked down. Sad, cerulean eyes looked back and she could feel Vivienne’s talons, so wickedly sharp, brush along her withers with a touch as soft as her feathers.

“Hold me, my Lune. Hold me like tomorrow will not come.”

Chapter 9

Luna sat across from the queen as she helped Vivienne through the paperwork, the queen's reading glasses pinched on her beak to keep them in place. Tiberius was nestled cozily on Vivienne's back, right between her wings. The only sounds were pens scribbling across paper and the ticking of the clock. With a sip of her coffee, the alicorn stared at one particular paper in front of her before she flipped through the others it was attached with. She slipped it over to Vivienne while the queen was in the middle of handling another paper.

The hen glanced up at the pony then to the paper. Her brow raised slightly before she nodded and signed it.

"Their range is rather short," Luna pointed out.

"They are also more mobile and hit harder as well. They can shoot and be out of there before anyone is aware. Think of them more as a means to punch a hole for a rapid breakthrough."

"Hmm. Given the explosive yields they could perhaps take out armored vehicles easily as well."

Vivienne smiled. "Like, perhaps, tanks."

"We will need to do more field tests on them for moving targets in that case."

"I shall see to it, we need every possible advantage."

There was a knock on the door and Vivienne affirmed they could come in. Spike walked in carrying a tray with two hayburgers, hayfries, and two soft drinks for Luna and Vivienne and some berries and an uncracked egg for Tiberius. The opossum sniffed at the air and gently climbed off of Vivienne's back and onto her desk as his little plate was set for him.

"I added some beef stock to the hay to give it a more meaty flavor for you, your majesty."

"Oh please, Spike, just call me Vivienne. Thank you, you are such a good helper. If only more of my little griffons and ponies were so diligent!"

Spike beamed proudly at the praise and bowed before he left as the three went to eating.

"I can't believe she beat you, auntie!" Flurry said from the sidelines.

Luna blew some of her sweat-slick mane from her face to look at the smug grin of the queen across from her. "It has been some time since I practiced my dueling, Flurry."

"And it is important for a queen to practice her bladework, little one. Shall we go again, my Lune?" Vivienne did a little flourish with her blade. "As before, the first strike is yours."

Luna took a step back to fix her mane before they put their protective masks back on and got into position. The pair circled each other carefully, Luna's blade carefully settled in her mouth, Vivienne's grasped by her talons. Differences alone in sword style would have favored a griffon, and had so far. Vivienne's defenses were tested by Luna giving preliminary pokes, the griffon deftly deflecting.

"Ah ah ah, you did this before, my Lune! Please, do not be predictable. It is unbecoming, you must always keep your opponent on their-" she then squawked in surprise as Luna began a brutal assault, her blade whistling in the air as she thrust forward over and over with an additional swing here and there to keep Vivienne on the defense

The queen staggered backwards as she felt Luna's blade tap at her repeatedly while the alicorn called out each point through the hilt in her mouth. Luna then reared back to give one final swing down when Vivienne lunged, tapping the blunted end of her own sword across the alicorn's barrel. The princess nickered in shock at the blunt strikes and stumbled back under the assault.

When it was finally over Vivienne raised her mask over her face and smirked. "Two nothing, my Lune. There is no shame in losing to one as beautiful as I!"

Luna let out a little snort and pawed at the ground a bit as she slowly took off the protective gear. "Your skills are very impressive indeed," she complimented in a terse tone.

Vivienne's wings tightened up against her back as she smiled. "Ah, perhaps Flurry would like a go?"

Before Luna could say a thing in protest Flurry was already by her side, her large wings buzzing in anticipation. "Daddy taught me a little bit, can I auntie, please?"

Luna closed her eyes and nodded. "I do not see why not."

The alicorn filly was dressed in protective gear for her size, the gymnasium well stocked for all sorts. Flurry took up her own sword in her magic and gave it a few swings.

“Flurry, we use our mouths when dueling with another without magic,” Luna gently reminded. “It’s cheating otherwise.”

“Okay auntie,” Flurry said with reluctance as she brought the hit up to her mouth and gripped it. She tested the balance of the sparring blade in her teeth carefully before she looked up to Vivienne with a smile.

"Ready when you are!" she slurred out around the hilt.

Vivienne pulled her protective mask down. "I shall go easy on you."

Flurry nodded as Vivienne gingerly pressed in for a poke, more out of not wanting to hurt the filly than anything. Then Flurry exploded into a whirlwind. The queen squawked in surprise as blunt steel came whipping about and she slowly backed away to keep on the defensive until an opening could be used. The small alicorn's size was a disadvantage in most senses, and Vivienne saw a wide opening that she thrust for.

Flurry countered by twisting out of the way and slamming the flat of her sword right into Vivienne's wrist. Another squawk and her blade dropped to the ground. Before she could yield Flurry did a couple more strikes to ensure that she was properly disarmed.

"Flurry!" Luna snapped, "enough!"

The shout caused Flurry to stumble on her hooves and fell to the ground while Vivienne carefully backed away. As the hen cradled her aching wrist she looked at the two alicorns.

"Perhaps that is enough for today."

Luna helped Flurry out of her gear and the little alicorn ran off to go find Spike and Tiberius. Vivienne let out a pained hiss as she gripped at her wrist.

"What in Tartarus was that?! She damn near broke my wrist! I know you said before that Flurry was strong but I thought that was just with magic!"

Luna bit her lip. "I did too. It has been centuries, Vivi, I forgot how strong an alicorn can be even as a foal."

The queen gently massaged her wrist. "I defeated you twice, not without some difficulty, and yet that little filly just exploded into a ball of violence!"

"She has a perilous future ahead of her if battle is to be her talent."

"I had not considered that." Vivienne began to gingerly take off her own protective gear. "To have your life dictated by a mark upon you until the end of your days..."

"It is what we are good at, not necessarily our destiny. I control the moon, that will always be part of me, but that is not my destiny." Luna's horn flared as she assisted Vivienne.

"Were you destined to become princess?" Vivienne asked in honest curiosity.

Luna shrugged. "The cutie marks of myself, my sister, and Twilight were on the Tree of Harmony. Celestia and I were born alicorns, along with little Flurry. Cadance and Twilight ascended. Perhaps, if Star Swirl and the others had not vanished they would have set up something for Equestria. Alas, it was up to my sister and I to unify the disparate kingdoms and save the ponies from Discord."

"Thrust into a responsibility you perhaps did not want?"

The mare looked away. "There was no one else to do what was necessary... But Celestia and I do not talk about those days."

"Forgive me for bringing it up... and for irritating you earlier."

Luna flicked her tail. "I have not been able to fight personally as well as I used to, but again, nothing I wish to dwell on. Is your wrist feeling any better?"

Vivienne nodded as she held it up for her to look at. "I will try to not use it strenuously for a while. I suppose I will need more of your help with the paperwork. Ah, risk of injury is an occupational hazard. A trip to my personal physician shall see to it."

Luna looked at Flurry as the pair sat in the filly's room with Tiberius being snuggled fiercely by the younger. As she looked down to her niece the pink pony tried to avoid looking back.

"Did you mean to hurt Vivienne?"

Flurry hugged Tiberius tighter.

"Flurry, please talk to me."

"...Yes." She shifted uncomfortably at the confession and kept her eyes down.

"Why?"

Flurry bit her lip and Tiberius squeaked as she squeezed him with trembling limbs. "I never get to see you anymore. Spike's always busy with his stuff too. I only see you at dinner!"

"Flurry," Luna's voice was stern, "It is wrong to hurt someone like that!"

"I-I know!" the filly blubbered out as she closed her eyes, tears streaming down her face. "I know and I did it anyway!"

As Flurry sobbed Luna let out a weary sigh. "You know you must tell her and apologize."

Flurry wiped at her face with a hoof. "I-I'm not sorry."

She stared dumbfounded at her niece. "You are not...?"

"No, and I won't ever be!"

Luna stood up and turned away from the filly. "I am disappointed in you Flurry. You are supposed to be better than that. This is not how a Princess acts."

"A Princess shouldn’t run away either."

Luna froze at those words for a moment before she stiffly walked out of the room collided with Spike. The dragon fell back with a grunt while she was unfazed. He looked up to her and rubbed the back of his head.

"Should I get ice cream...?"

"No. She does not deserve any such," Luna said in a shaky tone.

"Are you okay Princess?"

"I-I would very much like to be alone, Spike."

There was a loud rapping on her door. "Luna?" Vivienne asked through the wood, "May I come in?"

"No," Luna replied as she rolled over onto her belly to stare listlessly out the window.

"I had a talk with Flurry."

Luna’s horn flared and the door unlocked. Vivienne walked inside and shut it behind her.

"I have been monopolizing your time."

Luna rolled over onto her back to look at Vivienne upside down. "Such a mess of things I have made."

"No, a mess that we have made," the hen said as she sat on the bed next to Luna. "I have been so enamored in the courtship of an alicorn princess that I neglected to allow you time for your other responsibilities. To your family, to your ponies."

Gently she laid a hoof on Vivienne's thigh. "It has been too long since someone sought me out as you have, Huntress. Since my return potential suitors were not honest, and far more devious in design than you. If they even cared about me at all as anything besides being Celestia's younger sister."

Vivienne gently stroked the blunt sides of her talons along Luna's foreleg slowly. "I think, perhaps, it is time for you to return to New Mareland."

Luna gave a slow nod. "Some more time with Flurry would be good for her, I know all too well how loneliness and envy turn out..."

She felt a gentle squeeze on her leg. "Would you like for me to stay with you tonight?"

"Please."

Luna was about to speak when Celestia disappeared in a flash. Bewildered, she turned to see Vivienne dressed as a general of an older time during her banishment. She stood there dumbfounded, even as dream constructs fought in the far distance.

Vivienne raised a brow. “You seem confused.”

“I- Well, yes. I have been worried about her. Did you two converse for long?”

The queen nodded. “A brief time, yes. She clearly wanted to see me. Oh, why do you look surprised?”

Luna blinked. “Celestia is not well versed in dream magic, I thought she would have stumbled into your dream by mistake. She came here on purpose?”

Vivienne glanced out to the battlefield. “Indeed. She sought to make sure her feelings were clear. That I should stay away from you, and that there will be consequences should I hurt you.”

Luna’s confusion shifted to annoyance. She pawed at the ground and let out a snort. “She did what?!”

Vivienne came close and embraced her. "Calm, calm. Your sister meant well, but I took care of it. Besides, did you not enter my dreams unbidden before?"

"I did it to help you!" Luna said as she pulled away with a frown. "I did not do it to intimidate you!"

Vivienne smiled warmly. "As I said, I had it well taken care of. Your sister has made many mistakes, no?"

"You did not say anything too vicious, did you?"

The hen shrugged. "I just mentioned all the hurt she had piled upon you. Then you appeared and she fled, but I could have driven her off on my own."

Luna's ears pinned back. "That was quite cruel of you. What did you tell her?"

"She said that we barely knew each other, I reminded her you two had each other for a century when that happened."

"Vivienne! How dare you bring that up with her!" Luna scolded.

Vivienne snarled and in a brief moment her dream visage mirrored her ancestor's. "She comes into my dream unbidden, making demands of me, I can say whatever the fuck I want! Whether it be her neglect that led you to turn into Nightmare Moon or her inability to act that led to the loss of Equestria I will gladly remind her of what she has done wrong when my sanctity is violated!"

Luna snorted and pawed at the ground. "It was not my sister alone responsible for those things, Vivienne. Never bring them up so flippantly.."

There was a sharp sting as Vivienne firmly jabbed a talon into Luna's chest. "You know I strike right to the heart when it matters! Was I to just trade minor barbs until you showed up to condemn her actions? I do not run and hide when I am challenged!"

Luna smacked the talons away. "Yes! You don't drudge up the past like that, especially when you weren't involved in those events in the first place! Celestia neglected me but it was I who made the choice to give in to my envy and hate! Equestria was lost because she was worried about doing what I did, and because I was too ignorant, too stupid, of how to fight modern wars! It's the whole crux of why I'm here with you in the first place!"

Vivienne snorted and turned away. "Of course, she is your sister and you two had been apart for so long. It only makes sense to side with her."

A hoof smacked hard against the ground. "What she did was wrong and not something so easily forgiven, especially when she intended to intimidate you, but that still doesn't excuse your own words!"

The queen looked over her shoulder with an icy gaze.

"Don't give me that look," Luna said with hurt in her voice. "Please Vivi, let's talk things out." She stepped up to stand beside Vivienne at the sight of the battle before them.

"Perhaps it would be best if you left for Sunset sooner rather than later," Vivienne's tense tone smacked Luna with the weight of it.

The princess stiffened up. Her jaw worked but no words came out. In a whirl of magic she vanished from the dream, a trickle of silver tears in her wake.

Vivienne blinked at the left behind stars glittering, and then she was standing amongst rubble. Another blink, and she was at the top of Trinity Hill, the temples in ruins. The heat of the fires burning her beautiful city did nothing to unfreeze her heart from the fear that gripped it. A familiar shadow loomed over her, and as she looked up she could see the evil leer of the long dead emperor, his right eye utterly ruined.

Chapter 10

The recreational room of their manor in Sunset was the perfect place to practice Flurry's magic, given that it was spacious, and Luna's own magical abilities were easily able to keep the filly's contained. Flurry's skill was undeniable as she kept multiple heavy objects hovering around and wove them through intricate patterns. After that she shifted to forming a shield in which Luna continually tried to pierce through with her own powers and carefully ratcheted up the intensity until she stopped at halfway of her might.

"That is enough, Flurry," Luna said as she tapped a hoof against the filly's shield. "Truth be told, your potential is greater than I expected it to be. But you are too young to study spells that would make use of your talents."

Flurry pouted. "Aww, why?"

"There is a lot of reading and theory involved. It would be best if you spent your time on forming friendships first instead of throwing yourself into such work so young."

"But why? Aunt Twilight was a prodigy too and didn't have friends for years!"

"She had me!" Spike spoke up as he set down a tray of refreshments.

"You're family, that doesn't count!"

As they got into a good-natured argument over family counting as friends, Luna quietly slipped out of the room and headed down to the office she shared with her sister. Inside she sat at the desk and laid her head down on it with a tired groan. She simply laid there until the phone began to ring and she let it rattle on its cradle. Eventually the ringing was too bothersome to ignore.

"Hello?" she asked in irritation into the receiver.

There was the clicking of a beak on the line. "These calls are expensive, even for a queen."

Luna sat up. "V-Vivienne. I did not expect to hear from you."

"I sought to call directly, about some breakthroughs we had made... You do not sound well."

She nervously tapped her hoof against the desk. "It is Celestia. I am not sure how to process it all, but I am afraid..."

"Why, what happened?"

She glanced out the window at the gentle mid-day. "Will Aquileia march with New Mareland when the time comes?"

"Luna, please do not change the topic."

"I just, it is difficult for me to think on Vivienne. Please."

Luna heard the ignition of a lighter, then the sound of the hen taking a long drag on her cigarette.

"Okay," Vivienne breathed out. "I understand, I will not push you if you are not comfortable speaking of it. As for your question, yes. Your suggestion of using the crystal as a sort of ammunition magazine? We have figured out how to use full crystals for tank munitions. It does not work so well in that configuration for the small arms, but by cutting the crystals we can get similar results for the rifles."

"That is good, very good. Has production begun?"

"Limited. The rifles we will be passing around to our MPs and small amounts to our special forces. The tank cannons are also being tested in limited amounts, but we will have enough to put them into battle in short order."

"Were there not plans for fully magically enhanced tanks too?"

"There are, but we are taking our time with those. The spellcannons as they are called are very good for now, and we are scaling things out from there to ensure safety and reliability."

"Will it be enough?" Luna asked quietly.

Vivienne scoffed. "My Lune, what is the most important thing a soldier needs?"

"Supplies."

The hen chuckled gently. "Well yes, but besides that!"

"Discipline."

"No other army on the entire continent is as disciplined as mine, I assure you. The desperate retreat from Skyfall would have been a disaster if they did not have discipline! They will march and fight to free Equestria at my order."

"I look forward to working with whomever you send to lead. Will it be Sophie, or will she remain in Aquileia to continue leading the weapons development?"

Vivienne began to let out a hearty laugh. "Oh ho ho ho! Oh my dear Lune, my sweet mare, do you think I would entrust such an operation to just anyone? No, I shall be leading my armies personally! I have an interest in seeing how you perform on a real battlefield after all."

Luna's jaw dropped as she tried to muster up a response. "I, um... That is just-"

"Think nothing of it. How could I possibly sit back and let someone else take the glory when it could be me?"

She smiled at the queen's bravado. "Thank you, Vivienne."

"Now, tell me what is going on with your sister."

Lulled into a sense of security, then struck. Just as she would expect from Vivienne.

Luna chewed on her lower lip. "What can I even say? I am afraid that I may be the only one of us to return to Equestria, after our last conversation..."

"Are things truly so dire up north?" Vivienne's tone shifted to worry. "Should we have sent more soldiers?"

"No, it is not a matter of soldiers. She has gone on a suicide mission, with the full expectation to die."

"I see..." Vivienne took another slow drag of her cigarette. "Perhaps, it is because what she is doing is so vital? That no one else could have a chance at it?"

"Perhaps..." Luna didn't sound convinced as she looked back outside.

An awkward silence descended as they let the time tick away.

"It was nice to talk to you, Vivi," Luna said softly.

"Mmhm. I will call again if there are any new updates. I am sure you and New Mareland would be eager to get your hooves on some of our new weapons, no?"

"Quite. Send over some samples and we can work out a price if it impresses the officers here."

"Of course. And, my Lune."

"Hm?"

"I am sorry. I was upset and pushed you away. Sending you away in anger was a grave mistake and soured our parting."

Luna closed her eyes. "A sour parting perhaps, but is that worse than the bitter one we had prepared? You need not apologize, Vivi, but I thank you for doing so all the same. I shall see you again, and you will be beside me as we free my ponies."

"So gentleponies, how have the Aquileian weapons fared?" Luna asked the arrayed officers.

A bat pony mare with a multicolor mane of black, red, and yellow raised her wing to speak up. Luna gave a nod in assent.

"These things are great, princess! A little finicky with the crystal ammunition and they require a lot of maintenance, but for the purposes of my soldiers they work out pretty well! They're a lot lighter too. Hold up one of these along with one of our normal rifles and the difference is staggering! With enough of these we could have every pegasus and thestral in the army well ready for any airdrop!"

A pale and lilac-maned unicorn nodded in agreement. "The crystal ammunition holds up better against water logging than gunpowder as well. Our marines could use these as well for amphibious landings and even then, being lighter than usual is a blessing for hauling gear."

Luna looked over the other generals. "Unfortunately Aquileian production is limited, we may be able to secure these for just our special forces unless we can work out a licensing deal."

"Bringing production home would let us not worry about waiting for shipments of the guns and ammo," one of the other officers said.

"Would be cheaper for us too," Jet Set said as he walked in. "But that can all wait for now. Princess Luna, I have wonderful news."

Luna turned to the governor with a gentle smile. "More breakthroughs with Beakolini?"

"Celestia is on her way back."

Chapter 11

Luna, Flurry, and Spike waited fretfully at the train platform alongside Jet Set and various others. The horn and chugging wheels of the train were heard long before it was seen and only made the waiting even more agonizing. She could feel her heart thump in anticipation as the train began to roll up and slowed down to a stop. The doors opened and Celestia walked out, dressed in naught but carrying a sword and shield with her.

Flurry lunged and wrapped around her older aunt's front hooves, sobbing loudly. Spike soon joined her in embracing Celestia, his own tears much more subdued but still trickled down his cheeks.

Luna looked up and her heartbeat slowed as she looked to Celestia's magenta eyes and saw so much relief in them, along with a steely resolve she had forgotten existed. She let the others greet her sister, the children with their tear-filled hugs, the other adults with well wishes and updates. When Celestia's attention turned to Luna the younger sister smiled, but remained silent.

'We can talk later,' her eyes said.

Hours later the sisters occupied their shared office, stacks of papers on both desks. The solitude of the office had a tense air to it as Celestia and Luna sat across from each other. Celestia had myriad papers in front of her of the latest developments, though her attention was on her sister. Luna kept her gaze steady on her.

"You have retrieved the Blade of Mercy and Shield of Hope I see."

"I have, yes. Both are back where they belong, and I intend to not squander them again."

Luna closed her eyes. "So we are going to reclaim Equestria."

"We must. For Flurry Heart, for Spike... for all of our little ponies." Celestia turned her gaze down to the papers. "You've been hard at work yourself. Procuring the license for these magical weapons would have been difficult under other circumstances. I'm glad you and Queen Vivienne are so... close."

Luna shifted in her seat as her sister's disapproving tone made her ears fold back. "It is a mutual arrangement. She has taught me much as well as willing to lend aid in troops that she can spare. In return we have given her the resources necessary for her weapons projects as well as helping ensure the security of the Aquileian-Imperial border with support from Beakolini."

"Mmhm."

"You kept yourself well concealed as you slept."

Celestia glanced up. "I had to think about things. Much had happened since our last talk, and I needed time to digest them."

"You were avoiding me again," Luna accused.

Celestia squinted slightly, her lips curled into a subtle frown. "No, Luna, that's not it. You remember the old wars?"

Luna looked down toward her desk. "How could I forget?"

Celestia nodded. "Then you remember Sol Invicta."

Her eyes rose up slowly. "You didn't."

"I did. No longer do I fear my war mask. I donned it against the Dread League, and I shall do so again to liberate our home."

Luna couldn't help but scowl, though it was directed at herself more than Celestia. "If only my own had not been broken by my own hoof."

"Indeed. We could have used Metztli but there's no use in lamenting about it."

She raised a brow as she looked at her sister. "Not taking the blame for my fall this time?"

Celestia glanced up and shrugged. "We both have sins aplenty, sister. It's about time I stopped trying to make it about me when we were both at fault." Her horn glowed as she picked up a pen and began to write. "I'll send a letter to the queen asking forgiveness for my intrusion into her dreams. We have much more to worry about after all."

A pit of unease filled Luna's belly as she stood up. "I shall leave you to catch up with everything. Flurry and I have more magic lessons today."

"Once I'm done here let her know we'll start off our own lessons tomorrow."

That caused Luna to pause. "Oh? What is it you are going to teach her?"

Celestia looked up with a smile. "How to fight, of course. We'll both be in Equestria, she'll need to learn how to control herself, so while everything is being prepared I'll spend the time to help her."

"...What if she develops a war mask?"

Celestia's smile slightly faded. "She's too young for that. Ours didn't develop until after we had our cutie marks. I'm merely going to teach her the discipline she'll need to not have the tantrums I was told about. Besides, Cadance and Twilight didn’t have their own. Our circumstances were different as well. We hadto wage war back then. Flurry will be safe in New Mareland until Equestria is freed."

Luna stiffened. "But what if she does?" she pressed.

Celestia tried to hide the fear in her eyes, but the creasing of her cheeks into wrinkles of worry gave it away. "We must see to it that she doesn't."

She remained unconvinced, and the pit in her stomach only grew heavier. Luna gave a slight nod to Celestia and walked out of the office.

Weeks of preparation and even still she was unsure of it all. The boldest military operation in world history, of two massive amphibious landings. Luna to the north, across the narrow strait between the two great continents, backed up by legions of griffon knights, priests and dedicated warriors of Arcturius... and what remained of the necromancers that Celestia had crushed. Her sister along with several waves of New Marelanders and a veritable horde of dragons to retake the southern jungles.

She pursed her lips as she looked over the customized pistol that had been gifted to her. A proper officer's weapon, compact and concealable, of Aquileian make with moon and star motifs engraved in the grip. Luna holstered the pistol and walked out of the tent into the crisp Vedinian air.

The entire camp was abuzz with activity as soldiers and officers from various different militaries had to operate under one plan of battle, the majority of them being knights of chivalrous ideals... and what necromancers of the Dread League that had been cleared to serve after intense scrutiny from those of the Arcturian Order. Luna could keep track of them all easily enough and she turned to make way out when she looked at the pale pony before her.

"Princess, Queen Vivienne had said that there isn't much time before the operation begins and that she is meeting with Princess Sköldsvärd before it starts."

Luna mused on that for a moment. "Thank you Rosa. How have you been acclimating as my assistant?"

The former lich still looked like she could number among the undead, though healthier than she had before. She turned her gaze from Luna to look at the ground.

"It has been, fine, Princess. I thank you that you still let me utilize my talents in necromancy."

Luna walked past Rosa, but motioned for her to follow. "Of course. There is more to it than enslaving the dead after all. And even then, though most have refused, there are still some soldiers and knights willing to be raised to serve if they are slain. Their sacrifice will be of great use against the changelings."

"The League is willing to serve in whatever capacity you require of us. Celestia could have slain us all but she didn't, and I mean to repay her mercy," Rosa said as she trotted alongside the princess.

"Do not be mistaken, despite my own proclivities for magic of a darker bent I am keeping a close eye on you and your brethren. Still, it would be a shame to not let you help. It is your talent, and nothing makes a pony anxious than being unable to perform their special talent."

"The Arcturian Order has a standing order to execute any necromancer that disobeys their handler." Rosa’s words were tense and strained.

Luna froze in her steps and briskly turned to look at Rosa. “What? Who implemented such a mad policy?”

The necromancer turned away from the princess’ gaze. “As the highest ranking member of the Dread League I implemented it without complaint from the others.”

Taken aback, Luna’s wings flared out. “What?! Why would you do such a thing?”

Still unable to meet her eyes, Rosa kept her sight firmly away. “The League had before sought to spread across the world to bring terror and death to innocent and guilty alike for no reason other than because we had been shunned for our talents and interests. Then, when we heard the whispers in the dark, we became more and more enthralled into going through with our Dark Crusade against life.”

Luna shook her head. “Redemption is not an easy road to walk. That you are willing to be punished if you falter is admirable, but execution is an extreme choice. Speak with William later to come up with something more reasonable. That is an order.”

Rosa’s ears pinned back and she nodded. “Yes, Princess Luna.”

She took a deep breath. “Believe me Rosa, you and your peers are a valuable asset for the war. To accept death is what we all must do, but not if it will cost us in the long run. Think about this. Now, come along, we must meet with the others.”

The pair wove through the camp toward the command tent, the cold ground beneath their hooves beginning to give way to warmer temperatures. As they approached one of the griffon soldiers pulled the flap aside for them. William Steel Beak of the Arcturian Order stood at the map table with Prelate Celeste beside him. Luna couldn’t help but admire their knightly armor, at once seemingly antiques but the unique griffon art of enchantment making them useful even on modern battlefields. She noticed how stiff Celeste was, the prelate’s gaze focused firmly on Rosa. Luna pursed her lips and looked to the map below while all manner of things going wrong ran through her head.

"So today is the day," she said to herself.

"King Meyer has given the signal that he is ready to strike. He's just waiting on our order, Princess Luna,” William said.

Luna looked up at the headmaster and nodded. "And my sister?"

Celeste pulled her attention from Rosa to speak. "Reports are that she's jumped the gun and has already started landing in the jungle basin. So far with minimal resistance from what we have gathered."

"Celestia is not so impatient..." Luna trailed off before she looked around. "You have your orders. We begin on schedule. The invasion of Weter occurs at 0641 exactly."

"Yes ma'am!" they replied.

Luna turned to Rosa and leaned in to her. “Speak with William as soon as you can, but see to the logistics officers and help Spike double check everything..”

The necromancer bowed low. “Yes, princess.”

Luna left the command tent and closed her eyes to track the movements of the heavens above. Time was short, she should be in there still for any updates, and yet…

She stood outside of Vivienne’s own tent, the Aquileian flag waving over it. Two Aquileian soldiers, a griffon and a pony, both gave her a salute as she looked up to the flag. A breeze blew that ruffled her feathers and the princess began to turn away when a griffon stepped out. Luna took a step back to let the gray-feathered hen pass.

“Princess Sköldsvärd,” Luna said. “A pleasure to meet you.”

The young griffon gave a polite bow. “Princess Luna, forgive me but I need to hurry to oversee preparations. It would be an honor to talk another time.”

“Of course, do not let me keep you.” Luna moved out of Sköldsvärd’s way and watched as the griffon hurried off. Something itched at the back of her skull, something in the hen’s green eyes bothered her but she couldn’t put her hoof on it. With a shake of her head she turned to the soldiers and headed inside.

The inside of the tent was spartan, with a makeshift desk of cheap wood near the back and a cot off to the side. A trunk laid underneath the cot, simple wood and leather. Vivienne was seated on an old chair, roughshod and the stain of it worn at the arms. The queen looked in surprise at her visitor and she shuffled some papers into a pile. “Luna! This is unexpected, I was thinking of seeing you later tonight!”

Luna’s eyes drifted to a map and a half-folded letter in front of Vivienne. “Is it wrong to wish to see you now? When I heard you were meeting with Meyer’s vassal, I was curious..”

The queen’s feathers puffed out a little as she sat up straight. “The princess still retains control over Vedina, we rely on her knights, navy, and air force. As little as it may be. Every contribution helps after all. The invasion of Weter is going to begin shortly, no? You should be at the command tent in case anything needs your attention.”

Luna approached the makeshift desk as she hummed an ancient tune. Vivienne slowly moved her chair back to stand up and found herself in a winged embrace. The princess nuzzled against her neck and planted a kiss on the queen’s cheek.

“I wanted to thank you for the gift, the pistol is a true work of art.”

Vivienne couldn’t help but let out a soft trill at the kiss and nestled into the mare’s embrace. “You should be focused on the war, my Lune. My armies will not be engaging until after the first wave has landed.”

“I want you with me, Vivi. It will not be possible all the time of course, but when we can I want us together. It would not feel right for me otherwise, not after you have taught me so much.”

The familiar sensation of those sharp talons brushing against her coat and skin had her wings shift. “My Lune, nothing would make me happier than to be by your side through these challenges ahead, but you need to learn to stand on your own. I will not always be there for you, as we push ahead we will need to focus and that will mean splitting responsibilities.”

“Can I not be a little indulgent?” Luna asked with a small smile. “You are right, I can stand on my own four hooves. You are already busy managing the intelligence operations.”

“I just have my little owls handle things, spycraft is not something I am personally well versed in after all, even if they tell me it is mostly chatting and paperwork.”

They stood in comfortable silence before Luna reluctantly pulled away. “I will return to the command tent. Celestia has already begun landing in the southeastern jungles and Meyer has yet to attack the fleet at Manehattan.”

Vivienne’s face twisted into confusion. “What? How foolish of your sister.” The queen shook her head. “No matter, it is done and we need to adapt. Send the message to Meyer to begin his attack now.”

“Nay, we stick to the schedule as planned. The fleet no doubt knows Celestia has already started, so they will be paying attention of any changes to the changeling fleet in Manehattan.”

Vivienne clicked her beak. “So that they could ambush them if they ship out. They may not take out as many on the open seas as they could still be harbored, but the changeling's air power in Manehattan would not be able to come out in time to try and save them either. In which case they would have to be forced to either return to port under fire and be stuck there, or risk maneuvering south or north and run into one of our other fleets.”

Luna was grinning as Vivienne spoke. “Clever, yes?”

“Quite so, my Lune, quite so! See, you do not need me looking over your shoulder. You are a brave, intelligent mare. Now go and lead our forces, I will come by in an hour.”

They exchanged a gentle peck before Luna trotted out. Vivienne sat back at her desk with a weary sigh as she shuffled the papers back out. The queen looked at the map and trailed a gloved talon over the islands of Haukland and the realm of Vedina. From there she moved her attention to the lands held by Kemerskai and his allies, their special brand of republican scourge surviving day by day in snowy hills and mountains, the Empire right at their southern border. The same Empire just north of Aquileia. She reached into her pocket to pull out a cigarette

"Oh Eyr, what foolishness have I done because of your subtle touch? Or maybe Arcturius wished to see me bear my skills against an evil foe than more griffons?" Vivienne snorted. "Perhaps Maar is at work."

As sunlight continued to trickle over the horizon a crow called out in the distance.

Author's Note

Well there it is everyone, the final chapter for The Princess of Night in the City of Light! I hope you've enjoyed reading it as much as I have writing it!