Luna Aeternal
Human Capital
Dark side of the moon
It was a nerve wracking ride. It was the first state visit made by ponies to human seat of goverment, Luna Aeternal, or "Eternal Moon" as it translated. At first Twilight had been interested in how the human machinery worked, but after emptying her stomach several times(She hadn't been aware that she had had carrots for lunch) when the ship pushed trough the atmosphere, she had suddenly lost her interest on the subject. Humans seemed to be amused by this, judging by how they shook their heads and their shoulders moved. They wore their suits, saying that you could never be sure when traveling trough space. At least this time they didn't have face covering plates, but clear see-trough helmets. Said they were "EVA" suits. They also lacked the armored parts the normal suit had. Twilight wondered if their perspection of humans was warped by the war, since "normal" human suit to ponies meant the armored and intimidating combat armor, where as this EVA suit was considered "non-normal".
Luna Aeternal was currently facing the sun, which meant that "Sun Time". Humans were less active on the surface when this time was on, mainly due to their sensitivity to the sun they had developed during the exile. Luna was looking out of the window when the ship flew around the moon, bringing Luna Aeternal into full view. Not that they were active to start with. There was little to do, outside repairs and occasional scrambles to get Anti-Asteroid Suits to approaching asteroids. Failure do so once had lead to The Second Cataclysm and to the war.
"It's weird. It looks at the same time majestic, yet depressing." Luna commented. In front of them Luna Aeternal expanded across the moon, being larger than Equestria in sheer size. Large crater where Hydroponic Farming District 6 had once been was clearly visible in the "southern" section of the complex. That crater was the reason behind The War. With the loss of such large source of food humans had panicked and launched an invasion on Equestria, hoping to remove magic from the surface and find a new source of food. Some of the outer structures were in process of being dismantled and recycled, since humanity no longer needed them or they had become ghost districts long time ago, as human population declined.
Large concrete and steel structures covered the surface, most of them gray with only few spots of color, left from the old days. The moon lacked an atmosphere, so no erosion occurred and what was left outside, usually stayed there for couple of centuries. Twilight could see anti-asteroid turrets dotting the buildings, with occasionally turning to target them before recognizing the ship and turning away.
Luna Aeternal was less of a single complex as it was one large city that lacked streets. Buildings rose and fell across it, but they were all connected to each others. Beneath the surface tunnels continued as humanity had expanded underground. It had been only few buildings when humanity had exiled itself to the moon, yet now it was largest human settlement in the existence. When Earth "phased" into Equestria, their colonies on Mars and other locations, as well the planets themselves, had disappeared(From their point of view, ponies never even knew there was supposed to be planet called Mars or Jupiter or anything else) thus leaving the moon colony only out-of-the-planet settlement left.
Suddenly, the pilot started to speak.
"Control Tower, this is Transport 3-4-1, callsign Icarus, transporting Princess Luna and her entourage. Total of 7 ponies. Requesting permission to land. Over."
"This is Control Tower to Transport Icarus, we hear you. Permission granted to docking bay 11. Warn the passengers of the media. The First Citizen is there to meet them. Over."
"Copy that Control Tower, making our approach now." Pilot pressed few buttons and ship turned around, moving towards large structure, which roof was opening. "Just to warn you, there will be media presence there. Don't be surprised. They can be worse than a pack of jackals."
"What's a jackal?" Twilight asked.
"I don't know. It's figure of a speech. Apparently it was some sort of vicious pre-Cataclysm predator." Pilot just shrugged his shoulders and took the ship down to the roof. Another metallic door greeted them. Roof above them started to close.
"Hey, what's going on?" One of the guards asked, seeing that there was no way to leave the place.
"It's an airlock. They will pump air in next and open the next door. You didn't think we just expose the interiors to the vacuum." One of the guards spoke up, clearly not wanting to be the one on whose turn things went wrong. Twilight thought for it a moment. It made sense. Since they needed to be able to work on their ships, they needed air, which meant atmosphere. If they just exposed the hangar, all the air would escape. So that's why they had build two door system.
"Also, we are about to enter AGG-field. You are going to feel your weight soon. Get ready for it. Especially you, get down to the floor." Human continued. He himself was holding on a handle on the wall and trying to keep his legs aimed down. Twilight turned herself around so that her hooves pointed down. Luna had enjoyed feeling of weightlessness, but had still remained upright. Rest of guards did their best to get down, with Luna assisting some. It was rather small(or large, depending what time era you framed it against) group. Princess Luna, Twilight, Captain Stonewall and 4 guards,
Ship landed down and pilot made last checks. "All clear. 1 minute until I open the front door. Get yourself ready." Ponies took their formation, with two guards front, Princess Luna, with Captain Stonewall on the right and Twilight on the left, on the left side and two guards behind. "Door open in 3... 2... 1... open" Door opened with a hiss and imminently they were assaulted by lights and sounds. It took sometime for Twilight to discern that there were humans with cameras filming and taking pictures, with another group of humans in same old armor they used everywhere. Except this time they had batons and pistols, lacked helmets and their suits where colored blue and white. There was large "SECURITY" painted on their back. They were clearly trying to hold back the tide of humans who were waving microphones around and tried to approach the transport. There were also curious onlookers, trying to see glimpses of these greatly talked about ponies.
Ponies walked down the ramp and up to a man in a suit. Interestingly enough, when on the moon they didn't need the suits, even when in presence of unicorns or even Princesses. In fact, he seemed visibly feel better when Princess Luna walked up to him.
"First Citizen Modigal, it is a pleasure to meet you." Luna greeted the man, by extending her right hoof which the man took in his hand and shaked, before releasing it and giving a small bow.
"It is our pleasure to host you for this meeting, Princess Luna. May I welcome you and your entourage to Luna Aeternal, the home of The Human Refuge. We hope that your trips was pleasant."
"Yes, it is not often we are able to experience joys of weightlessness."
"Shall we continue this on the official quarters? Docking bay is hardly a good place to conduct diplomatic business. Just follow us."
"Very well. Please show us the way."
In distance, Twilight saw one of the humans turn to those big cameras and start to speak.
"That was The First Citizen Modigal and Princess Luna of Equesteria, straight from the Docking Bay 11 of District 1. We will continue to bring you the latest news as they happen, so stay tuned! This is Olga Lindhoofs, Channel 1. We are off the air? Okay, let's move. I want to get everything from this visit."
Twilight guessed they were human version of reporters. If she hadn't seen humans with their "televisions", she would have wondered about the whole thing. However, as it was, she knew that they had been shown to whole human population in those things. The First Citizen (What sort of rank was that?) showed them around, although Twilight had to confess that she was already lost. Sure, there were signs and color-coded routes, but most of the hallways looked the same. Same metal everywhere. Same dull gray color. It was a small wonder how humans weren't permanently depressed. He showed them local market district, manufacturing areas, meeting areas, governmental sectors before coming to heavily guarded area. At first Twilight thought it was his residence, but The First Citizens words shocked her.
"Let me show you our pride and joy. We were able to save only little of garden plants, but those little we saved we brought here. This, is District 1's Nation Park" The First Citizen said as they passed trough one more bulkhead. In front of them laid massive dome. It was large enough that one could even fly there. It had glass ceiling, although Twilight guessed that metal structures that held it up housed steel plates to cover the whole structure if needed. But the most important thing was, the ground was covered in green grass. There were even some trees there and some flowers. Twilight tried to not let it show but she couldn't be but feel pity. This place, they called it a park, acted like it was something magnificent.
In Equestria, it wouldn't have been anything else but a garden. A badly cared garden. Yet, it was the best humans had, the best they could save from time before their exile.
She couldn't understand how humanity could have lived without going insane all these years.
"It is really lovely" Princess Luna said, although Twilight could hear Luna was thinking same thoughts as she was. It had been so much easier to think humans as some who wanted war because they were warlike people. Seeing that they really didn't have anything beyond scraps made it harder and harder to remain angry at them.
After a formal dinner, which despite being imported from planetside was somehow still lacking in taste, Princess and her entourage retreated to their chamber for rest.
"Bleh, what do they do to that food? It barely had any taste!" One of the guards complained.
"Silence private. You are official guard of Princess Luna. You are supposed to remain silent and guard her!" Captain Stonewall said.
"I think it's either because they have different tastebuds or it's because food is cleaned from all magical traces. Thus, when we eat it tastes 'bland' to us." Twilight wondered.
"I think so too, although there is no way to confirm that hypothesis without having human eat food that still has it's magical residue. We all known what would happen is someone did that." Princess Luna said. Two of the guards, who had served in the war, shuddered. They had seen what effect magic had on humans. Nobody would wish that horror on anybody. Two other guards and Captain hadn't witnessed the event, but were well aware of it.
"I wonder if I could get access to their library... they must have one!" Twilights curiosity started to appear when she thought about it. A whole new library, with never before seen books. It would be a scholar's dream! What she could learn from there, perhaps humans had created whole new school of magic? Or maybe she could finally glimpse the pre-Cataclysm history? She had always been fascinated by it. What kind of world had Earth been? Had it been like Equestria? Or maybe it had been something completely different? Normal humans who she had talked with had little knowledge of it. They had said there was little saved from those days and even that little was in danger of being lost due to inability to read ancient records.
"It is better for thou to stay here.This place is unfamiliar to all of us. Besides, thou can ask about it tomorrow while We are meeting with The First Citizen. We are tired and wish to retire for the day..." Princess slowed down at this point, seemingly to think for a moment and then turned to a clock that was on the wall "...Well, sleep cycle if We understand this clock correctly. 21:01 is late or early?"
"I think it means late. Very well Princess, we shall leave you for your rest. I will return to my quarters next room." Twilight answered and gave small polite bow. Guards simply saluted and moved to take their positions in the hallway.
"Good night, my little ponies..." Luna said before retiring for sleep. Twilight left the room and started to walk to her door, but noticed that guards had not yet left Princess room. On sudden impulse, she ran around the corner and made sure that guards didn't see her leave. Now she was free to go and locate the library. She trotted around empty hallways until she came to intersection that had directions.
"Let' see... infirmary, red line... security, blue line... hm...."
"Hey, why are you here?" Sudden voice asked next to her. Twilight gave a yelp, made impressive jump to air without running start and turned to the voice. It was a human child(At least Twilight thought it was a child. Otherwise humans had some really freaky height differences), about a her size. Humans were usually size of full-grown alicorn. "Are you here to kidnap bad children like my brother says?"
"... Uuhh... no... I... I ah.... What did your brother say I was here for?"
"To kidnap bad children. He said you came here to kidnap all children who didn't act nicely. Is that true?"
"NO! I mean, we, I mean, I, I ah...." Twilight's normally smart brains were currently trying to deal with a syntax error little kid had manage to cause. Kidnap bad children? What was she, a fairy tale monster? "I uh, I was looking of the library?"
"What's a library?" Kid said while dropping head to one side.
"It's a place with lot's of book, a place of knowledge." How come someone couldn't know what's a library was!?
"What's a book?" At this point Twilight's brain gave up and let her jaw hit the floor. Okay, not only did this kid think she was a fairy tale monster, but she didn't know what a library or a book was!? What was wrong with these humans?!
"...A book is a thing that holds a text. A library has many of them."
"Oooh! I know! You mean PDA! You lost your PDA and now you can't access The Database! Why you call it a library?" Kid started to jump up and down. It reminded Twilight the way Pinkie Pie jumped around. "Anyway, you can borrow mine! Just remember to return it to me once you don't need it! Here you go, with stylus! See ya!" Kid ran off and Twilight was left with weird flat thing, with a small pen looking object. As well as weird feeling she had met Pinkie Pie of humans.
She looked down to it. It had few items across it, often with labels she didn't understand. What was "My PDA", "uMessage" or "Steaming"? Atleast there was one thing she could use understand, "Users Guide". She tried to press it with her magic but found that there was nothing to press. She thought about trying open the device to find buttons when he remembered something. Kid had left her with this pen like thing, "a stylus" kid had called it. She picked it up and tried to press it against the item that said "Users Manual". Screen changed to what looked like a book, with title "Users Manual" on it. Twilight's eyes went wide open. This thing was a book?
Hour later she was in disbelief of what humans had achieved. This small thing, once you connected it to something called Lunar Network, could connect to The Database that housed nearly all knowledge humans had. It was incredible. Within her hoof was right now more books than her library in Ponyville had and they could travel with her! How was it possible that humans could ever lose any knowledge if it was so easy to take with them!?
"And may I ask what you are doing here, with that thing?" Metallic voice came behind her. Voice she knew very well. Slowly her head turned to face fully equipped human soldier... except this one had that blue-white color scheme with SECURITY written on it's chest. However, it didn't change the fact he still had that freaky helmet, even if it this time it had white faceplate and blue visor.
"I uh... I was looking for a library and uh..."
"You were looking for what?"
"A library" Human turned his head to side, universal 'I have no idea what you are talking about' sign. "Place with knowledge about history and such. Then I met this little kid... who I now realise didn't tell me her name... and he... or was it she... damn you humans look so same... anyway, he gave me this when I explained what I was looking for. It's amazing! It's like carrying your own library in your pocket and if you want to change book you can just choose a new book and if you are looking for something you just use the search function and you don't need to trough the book stacks to find it and try to remember the name you can just use the keywords..." Twilight didn't notice that the security officer had taken few steps back from the clearly insane mare.
"Alright, alright, I get it. However, I need to check something from that PDA, alright?"
"Huh wha- Oh right, sorry, here you go!" Twilight floated the stylus and the device(PDA? Was it another acronym what humans seemed to love?) to the officer. He was clearly not used to unicorn magic, since he was hesitant to touch the device. Maybe he hadn't served in the armed forces? Human picked the device and the stylus, tapped the device few times, looked at something, then tapped it again, looked some more before lowering it.
"Alright, no problem with the device itself. However, I need to confiscate this one, since it is originally from black market."
"WHAT!? I didn't..."
"No worries. I can see that this one was bought only few days ago and it has minimun use. In fact, I would say you just saved the kids family. It has malware on it..."
"What's a malware?" This time it was humans turn to make 'you got to be kidding me'-face, even if Twilight couldn't see it.
"It's a program. Had they used this PDA to buy something trough the network, the criminals who sold this one would have gained access to their bank accounts and stolen them clean. We had few of these appearing on the market and have been hard pressed to find them. This might be just what we need to locate the criminals. If you want your own PDA, I would suggest buying one from the sanctioned shops or requesting one from the embassy." Human said as he put the device away.
"Aaaw... and I wanted to learn your history... how come you could lose history if you got those thing?"
"Simple. Databases can get corrupt if not maintained, hardware can get destroyed, old formats become obsolete and nobody transfers the data forward et cetera et cetera. Now, you should return to your quarters and I won't report I found you here." Sudden Twilight realised she had no knowledge where she was supposed to be.
"I uuhh.... Oh great I'm lost!" The officer did human equivalent of facehoof, before pulling another device out of his pocket. He pressed the device few times before turning back to Twilight.
"Alright, follow me and I take you to quest quarters."
"Ah, thank you... uh..."
"Officer Silan, 2nd Security Division, at your service."
Rest of the trip was made in silence, with human checking his device few times to make sure they were going at the right direction. Eventually they arrived at her quarters where two were sleepy looking guards were guarding the door.
"Lost something?" Human said to the guards who sudden became much more aware of their surrounding. When they noticed Twilight their eyes went comically large. "You should be more careful. I leave her at your care and won't report this incident to Security Command." He said before leaving. Twilight just gave apologetic smile to guards and slipped inside.
It had been interesting day.
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Meanwhile, Luna was having an interesting experience. She had suddenly remembered that on Equesteria, it was time to raise the moon while she was on it. Although technically she had been imprisoned on the moon when it was raised by Celestia, she had no power back then. Ponies also had the funny misconception that she was physically on the moon. If that would have been the case, she would have known about the humans. No, she had been magically bind to the moon, with it serving as a metaphysical chain that kept her in prison. Celestia had agreed to take care of raising the moon while she was visiting humans, but she never did it right. Oh sure, to uneducated it seemed like the moon rose just fine, but to Luna it was all wrong. Seriosuly, you would think that couple exatons (1 000 000 000 000 000 000 tons) of rock in space would be easy to set to correct orbit after you have done same to a giant flaming ball of nuclear fusion! So she extended her magic to feel the moon.
Just like she thought, she was feeling Celestia’s magic nudging it to the sky and to travel in certain orbit. And she was doing it all wrong again! No, not there, here, no, don't sent it there it will block those stars, by the moon how hard can it be?! After a while she could feel Celestia’s magic withdraw as she fixed her mistakes one by one. Apparently Celestia decided to leave the job to those who knew how to do it. Satisfied with now correct path across Equestrian night sky, Princess Luna went to sleep.
She had difficult talks with The First Citizen tomorrow.