//------------------------------// // Chapter 1 // Story: The Princess of Night in the City of Light // by Carnifaxy //------------------------------// 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.