Phillydelpha, 279 years after Luna’s return.
The morning had been filled with unpleasant news. For the fourth time this week, the mail had not come. Maybe it was a little early for the mail mares to arrive, but it was afternoon too, so it might have been to late. But she was expecting something important. something that she couldn’t really afford to not get on time. A letter letting her know if she made it into the Royal Canterlot Officers Academy.
The Academy trained eligible ponies to become leaders in the most important space exploration program that has ever come out of canterlot.
The program had only existed for about 70 years, but they have already produced about 15 flagships and about 45 smaller ships. The most famous of these was the R.C.S. Celestial Wings, a large "dreadnaught" type vessel made for deep space exploration. Allthough, the definition of deep space wasn’t exactly clear.
Every year, a ship made it father out into the black, but the limit so far has not exceeded the five closest star systems, and the only colonies are local ones on two other planets in our local solar system.
Minerva patently waited by the window, watching all the other ponies go about their lives. She wondered if the mail mares were out there, doing their jobs or not, or maybe the academy decided not to even give her the benefit of a reply.
She decided to trot outside, onto the porch of her modest little house. She sat back down and pulled out her Tablet to check the latest news. The headlines were filled with political battles that seemed to never end. The political system was only one hundred years old, formed only after Celestia and Luna's Raising of the moon and sun were debunked after our first steps in space, but it almost proved worthless.
The only good thing to happen was that Luna was free to head up the NAVY's Space program, witch gave birth to the Exploration branches of the Royal Equestrian Navy.
As she sat there, reading news on her tablet, she heard someone approaching via the footpath leading to her house. It was a Captain of the R.E.N., with an envelope. She instinctively snapped into attention and saluted the Captain.
"Minerva Heartway, I am Captain Silverhoof, of the Royal Equestrian Officers Academy." he spoke with command to his voice. Minerva didn't falter as she stood at attention, but she was almost barley able to contain her excitement. "You've been accepted into our Academy." He said. "At ease, Cadet."
At that, Minerva smiled and lit up. "Captain, it's an honor. truly, it is. You don't know what this means to me."
"Oh, i have an idea" The captain said, "I've read your essay. Parents in the Seas, grandparents that were Canterlot Guards; you have a lot of duty in your blood. As well as your good marks in Basic training. But I would have you improve one thing, Heartway."
"And what is that" Heartway asked.
"You need to improve your magic skills if you're going to do well as a officer."
"But i thought I passed all the Magic tests in training? They weren't exactly complicated"
"Don't talk back to me, Cadet." The Captain shot. "No excuses. Improve your Magical ability by the time you ship out."
"Which is?" she asked, forgetting her previous question and attempting to not sound like she was talking about again.
"Exactly two months from now."
//end prologue.