The Princess of Night in the City of Light

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."