July 30th, 1034 ALB. Canterlot, Equestria.

The world has changed greatly since the Chrysalis' armies marched towards the capital of Equestria, life is now more complex than we ever imagined back in the year 1007, twenty-seven years ago; that's a lot.

Equestria is no longer the illusory country of harmony and peace that it was, the war, famine and death that that fateful year 1010 brought hardened the hearts and character of those who lived through the horror.

Harmony isn't what it used to be, so we had to become its greatest bastion.

Stalliongrad and Griffenheim threaten harmony in the world.

If we want peace, we must prepare for war.

The Arsenal of Harmony shall endure.

We are conquering the limits of magic and atoms, we are reaching the known limits, breaking paradigms, beliefs and superstitions.

We conquer space, we take cameras into orbit and see things never before imagined, we reached new frontiers in less than a century, on this planet and beyond. We'll get there, before they get there first.

Harmony is threatened in Equus, in Griffonia and Zebrica, the United Ponies Alliance is ready to defend it, whatever the cost.

We defended harmony in Equestria, in the Crystal Empire, in Zumidia, in the Seapony Sea, in Yakyakistan, in New Mareland. We rely on Maretonia, Kiria, and the River Federation to defend it in their own regions.

We supported Arabia, Gargiloya and Senturya with their problems, and harmony endured.

We thought the same thing when we entered the Naugdaw civil war, that we were going to wipe out commies. It was a difficult decision for the Princesses, but they proceded nonetheless.

Nothing has gone right in that war since we entered 1025. The creatures in the UPA question our reasons for being there now.

And today, in the middle of a protest for peace in Naugdaw, I find myself in Canterlot, to talk to Princess Luna about something even more fascinating we discovered at Luna Nova Institute, even more fascinating than when we sent the first pony into space, perhaps even more than the discovery of the titans.

Negotiations between the UPA, the decadent government of Barko Gecit – capital of Naugdaw – and the leaders of Talarayi are progressing in Vermillion. Meanwhile in Canterlot, a bustling city, has been paralyzed by anti-war protests in the capital.

Twilight, Spike and Fluttershy get out of the taxi that was in the traffic jam.

“I hope the princess understand your reasons, Twi,” the pegasus mentions, passing between the protest signs, the military police and the royal guard in front of the royal palace.

Massive pacifist protests and demonstrations could be seen from Vesalipolis to Colthage. Hundreds of thousands clamored for the return of the soldiers in Naugdaw.

“I'm worried, I don't think this is the best time to ask them,” The dragon intervenes.

“SMILE is about to suffer a funding cut, Spike, after that, we'll stay on Luna Nova until further notice. When the war ends, they will never approve our expedition,” Twilight says, walking past the guards who greet them.

The halls of the royal palace were a hive of activity, with numerous ministers, generals and workers going and coming, chatting and arguing.

“I'm worried that we won't be able to convince them. We didn’t prepare the presentation enough,” The dragon intervenes when they enter the antechamber of the throne, there were two guards stationed on the edge of the enormous door and the assistant Raven Inkwell.

There was a color television on the wall, a new addition.

“We would have organized this better, it's just loose sheets Twilight; you're always very organized about that, in just one day we would have organized it well,” the dragon continues, but the alicorn did not answer and turned to watch television.

On television, Princess Celestia was seen in a statement, on international television, addressing her subjects.

“My little ponies, today I have to announce to the world that the leaders of the United Ponies Alliance and the Naugdawian government, after arduous negotiations, have agreed to end the war and bring an honorable peace to this country. Therefore, I hereby declare the immediate withdrawal of the UPA Expeditionary Force, starting tomorrow until October 1st, in agreement…”

This news was both a relief and an added burden on the minds of the three present.

“We won’t have another day.” Twilight stated seriously, approaching the secretary. “Hello, Raven, we're here to see Princess Luna.”

“Welcome back, Your Majesty–”

“Just Twilight, please.”

“Apologies, Miss Twilight. Princess Luna unfortunately has an urgent situation that has just arrived and I'm afraid that she won't be able to receive you…”

Twilight just stared at her, frustrated.

Before the conversation could continue, the two doors to the throne room opened, letting out a pair of ministers who were still arguing and did not notice their presence. Behind them was Luna, who saw them with a mixture of resignation and happiness to see each other again.

“Twilight, it's nice to have thee, didn't you receive our postponement dragon letter?” The blue alicorn says.

“For the umpteenth time?" the lavender alicorn asks, sarcastically. "Don't worry Luna, we'll be quick, but please, listen.”

Luna, showing a friendly expression, but visibly tired of dealing with so many things while her sister was not in the Palace, lets them into the throne room.

“It's not easy to run a nation, Twilight, so please be brief, like you said. Thou have five minutes, we have to meet with Blueblood... again.”

The princess of the night did not bother to climb back to the sisters' throne and preferred to be below.

“So, Twilight, tell me what you're looking for now; Godzilla is gone and we don't know what happened to it… Wait, don't tell me... another giant creature?” she said, satirically.

Spike takes a double-leaf sheet of paper from the saddlebags and hands it to the princess to look at.

“This is the satellite photo of an unrecorded island in the Turquoise Sea, it had not been discovered… until now.” the lavender alicorn says, pointing at the picture.

The island, framed by coordinates and a scale, had a shape that resembled the shape of a hominid skull, like that of the apes in the jungles of southern Equestria.

“Civilizations in Equestria, Les Méridiennes and Abyssinia spoke of it: Skull Island. The land where their gods did not finish their creation.”

Luna just watched them with a look of incredulity.

“It's famous for the number of planes and ships that have been lost there,” Fluttershy adds.

“It seems far-fetched, Twilight Sparkle,” the princess of the night point.

“If we find things as strange as those insects years ago or that giant lizard, I don't think this is so far-fetched, Princess,” Spike contradicts.

“I assure you, Princess, this may be worth it, exploring the last corner of the earth where no living creature has ever set foot. It would be the discovery of the century, after Godzilla, of course,” Twilight argues.

“It's probably extremely dangerous, we think, who knows what dangers lurk in those lands, Sparkle,” The lunar princess interrupts.

“Princess Luna, this is a place where myths and science meet,” Twilight insists.

“And even if there were fantastic things on that island, Twilight Sparkle, we still don't believe it's safe, plus the resources given to SMILE are already too many. We're sorry, but no,” Luna said, getting up to leave, with time already upon her.

As Spike picks up the papers, Fluttershy and Twilight stand up as well, following Luna.

“SMILE and Luna Nova have contributed a lot to the advancement of Equestria and its allies, Princess, and the Hippogriffs are already organizing an expedition.”

“To thine own self be true, Twilight Sparkle, along with the search for extraterrestrial life, SMILE remains on the podium of money that we could have invested better. We have other national priorities, I’m afraid,” The blue alicorn says.

“Yes, but those ponies are crazy,” The lavender alicorn interrupts.

Luna watched with suspicion as the doors opened. Ironic.

“SMILE should have stayed in espionage after its reactivation,” Luna insists.

“Princess, I believe this is a unique opportunity for Equestria and all creatures, please,” Fluttershy intervenes, equally convinced.

“Since the Hippogriffian Intelligence Department will also be making an expedition, we can join the operation… with your permission, of course,” Spike adds.

Luna simply walked while listening to them.

“And what do you expect to find?” She questions.

“Resources, medicine, geological discoveries, possible fuels or special materials…" The lavender alicorn lists. "Also, Princess, I swear that we will follow all the necessary security measures and more, to keep your peace of mind.”

“To be honest, Princess," Spike intervenes "We don't know what's on that island.”

Luna stops to look at them again.

“But we do know something, Princess Luna." Twilight intervenes. "Within a day, an Imperial satellite will pass over it and in three days, Griffenheim and Stalliongrad will have the same images as us.”

Luna now seemed a little more open to the idea.

“Whatever it may be, Princess, you'll want to find it first, right?” Fluttershy finishes.

The night princess seemed thoughtful.

“We don't know how I can say this… but that makes a bit more sense, Sparkle,” Luna said, incredulous.

The excited and amazed face of the lavender alicorn and her friends was visible, and so they began to thank her.

“Okay, we shall grant thee thine boarding pass, Twilight Sparkle, but promise us one thing, just one thing…” she intervened seriously. "This is the last thing, Sparkle, we will not be able to grant more things like this, after this, you will stay in Luna Nova, do you promise us?

Twilight, excited, nods and thanks. Immediately afterwards, Luna turns around to continue on her way.

“Princess Luna!” she intervenes again.

Luna, already tired, exhales and turns around again.

“We will need the military to escort us, please.”

Author's Note

The first days of this story have been great, and got a good welcome, I appreciate it a lot for your interest in my work. Thank you and see you next week.