There were a few things that really advanced the technology in Equestria. One was the steam engine, being able to propel large amounts of both freight and passengers across vast distances in a relatively short amount of time with only coal and water being able to do so.
Next was the fuel engine, years after. Cutting back requirements in certain places compared to the steam counterpart. It made it easier to take care of on the run since you just had to pour in the required liquid and go, while steam required almost constant tending to make sure the coal flames didn’t die or get to hot and blow the internals.
One massive leap was even getting non-pegisi to fly, using the fuel engines to spin turbines like fans and get lift with fixed wings instead of flapping ones. This allowed eventually to carry cargo and multiple ponies with this power, slowly being improved as time went along.
All these things were relatively good with little draw backs, just improving the lives of both ponies and other species with each advancement in technology. Supplies got to the far off, large trade was made available and all on Equis prospered.
That was until the development of black powder.
It started off with shoving a bunch of it inside a long iron or brass tube and putting a ball of metal in after it to make a cannon. A few years after they decided to make it smaller and make the musket, able to be held by a single pony to fire a tiny ball of metal faster than any arrow could travel and pegisi fly.
Things devolved from there. As the technology traveled around the world and especially Equis countries started to militarize, arming more and more of their solders with new weaponry and replacing simple sharp sticks and sword.
Garrisons increased and spending on finding new forms of weaponry were pushed forward as to not allow the other nations to get a hoof up and to easily take over their lands.
The royal guard of Equestria had changed from just an honor guard and show force to an actual military fighting force as time advanced, replacing most of the spears and shields with muskets and being placed on less display and more in garrisons along the borders to persuade the enemies of Equestria form advancing into the peaceful lands.
The borders between Equestria and the Changeling lands had increased drastically; large boxes made from iron and concrete being erected with large cannons and many ponies and changelings being armed across the large parts of it.
The Crystal Empire had tried to stay fairly neutral since it was on the northern part of Equestria but it too was forced to militarize its borders with the Changelings and Yakyakistan. As its own defenses were built Cadence couldn’t help but worry about the future.
As the push for military advancements happened the increase of weaponry followed. What was once a powder charge and a metal ball put in a tube was soon change to a self-contained cartridge easily placed in a weapon and reloaded with ease.
And thus started to large scale militaries around the planet, from the Griffon Empire to the far reaches of Lake City. And while all countries had their own issues with the world as a whole Equestria had some of the largest.
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Luna took a few deep breathes to calm herself down. While she had been back in Equestria for a few years now after her return from the moon she still felt nervous about asking her sister about anything that concerned the country as a whole.
Hesitantly lifting a hoof she knocked upon the large, solid white doors with golden inlays, waiting for her sister to answer.
“Come in.” Said a motherly voice inside.
Taking a deep breath Luna opened the door and stepped inside, her bat guards waiting outside.
“Hello Cele, I hope I’m not coming at a bad time.” Luna said, closing the door behind her with her magic.
“For you, there’s never a bad time.” The princes of the sun said with a bright smile as she put down her quill, stepping back from the large oaken desk she was sat behind. “What occasion has you visit me during the day? Normally I see you in the evening.” She said walking over to her sister and embracing her in a tight hug.
Luna eagerly returned the embrace, nuzzling int eh nape of her sister’s neck before pulling back. “Actually sister, I’m afraid I’m here for serious matters.” She said nervously.
“Oh? Is something the matter?”
“Matter of fact there is.” Luna said with a deep breath. “As you know there have been some issues involved with my return, and one of them is the Thestrials…”
“What’s the matter?”
“W-Well it has always been taught to ponies that there are three tribes, when in fact there are four…” The princess of the night said, swallowing nervously. “Bat ponies are as much a part of Equestria as unicorns or Pegasus are and it’s not fare that they are viewed as less than and religated to living in the fringes and the mountains.” She said.
Stepping forward, Luna looked at her sister in a serious way. “Celestia, I believe that we need to promote the Thestrials in Equestria and to improve the friendship between all four tribe.” She stated factually. “It shouldn’t hinder a large number of ponies that they backed me a thousand years ago and still be penalized for it. They deserve every right every pony has.”
Celestia was taken aback by the passion of her sister, it had been a while since she had seen this in her.
“I can tell this means a lot to you…” Celestia said, still fairly shocked. “I promise you can do whatever you deem necessary to accomplish your goals.” She said, straightening out as she looked down at the younger pony. “I will make sure that everything you need is supplied and avalible.”
Luna was both glad and apprehensive at this announcement. On one hoof she was glad she was granted free reign to improve relations but on the other angered that her sister herself wouldn’t step in and help, since the solar ruler would go a long way to improve things.
“I thank you sister, I promise I will do everything I can on this subject.” She stated.
“I trust you Lulu, I know you can do it.” Celestia said with a soft smile, gently resting a hoof on her sister’s shoulder.
Stepping back away from the touch she gave a short nod and made for the exit, vexed at the answer she got. “I will see you for dinner then, good day sister.” She said curtly, exiting the room, guards on either side closing the grand entrance to Celestia’s bed chambers.
“See you sister…”
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Taking a step towards the large pedestal, looking out at the large crowd that stood before her and the large number radio ponies with their microphones to record her speech Luna couldn’t help but feel hesitation.
Swallowing the lump in her throat she looked down at the microphone before her.
“Equestria, I am Princess Luna, sister of Princess Celestia and co-ruler of Equestria as a whole.” She started, licking her lips and taking a deep breath. “Today I address you about a subject that is attacking the very heart of our country as a whole…”
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It had been 4 months since Luna addressed Equestria, and things went downhill fairly quickly.
Unknowingly to the Lunar diarchic this would cause all manner of problems, including a number of protests popping up across the country and especially in Canterlot as the head of the Equestrian government.
It resulted in one large gathering before the Canterlot castle gates, guards stood at attention before the shut entrance with rifles pressed to their sides in parade rest as large amounts of both bat ponies and non-bat’s stood around with signs, shouting at the castle as if each of their protests were heard.
Stock had been on duty for the past 4 hours.
He took pride in the state of his golden armour, spending a few hours a day polishing it to a mirror shine to show how much pride he had in the uniform since the past 5 generations of his family had all been guards.
While all his ancestors had spears against their shoulder’s, Stock Still had a new rifle, pretty much fresh off the mill. It improved from the last one he was given which had to have a loading lever pulled back and a new shot slipped in each time it was to be shot before one could be shot again. Now the bullets were loaded on a strip of metal and slotted into the top of the rifle. This allowed one to rack a bolt back and forth to load shots faster than individually loading each one.
And like his armour, Stock made sure it was as perfect as it could be. The metal was fresh and oiled, the slide action smooth as it was possible and not to even mention the wooden parts, a shine comparable to the sun with how long he spends rubbing it down with varnish and then the polishing it out.
Just because it’s no longer a metal polearm doesn’t mean Stock should slack off with the maintenance of his weapon, although sharpening wasn’t too much of an issue anymore because of it.
The sheer amount of pride he put in himself and his equipment had been around for years. Through the Nightmare Moon Return and the Changeling Wedding Invasion, although the second was a lot bigger for him personally since he was stationed in Canterlot at the time.
It both confused and frightened him how much these protesters seemed to not care about the uniform and what it stood for, shouting at him and his fellows, slinging slurs. Don’t they know what he has done for Equestria? What he’s lost and what others have lost in the name of their country? And now he’s being accused of being a traitor by those he protected, by those he spilt blood for in the Canterlot invasion.
The gnashing jaws of the changeling, watching the red and green blood flow upon the cobbled streets as he fought tooth and hoof.
The horrible skirmish he was in, surrounds on all sides with the hoard of buzzing insects, the constant noise. Only a handful of ponies with him, protecting a little warehouse filled with civilians and little hope of rescue. His spear was coated in a layer of green blood, dripping down the haft and soaking the white fur of his hooves.
They just kept buzzing around, constantly flying about with one lunging in for an attack when they thought that the defenders weren’t ready. The haphazard pile of barricades of tables from a café nearby and now piled up with the dead bodies of changelings, each cut and bleeding their foul liquid. It was hours before it was over, clutching that spear long after the blade had gone dull and his muscles shaking from strain.
He could still feel the cuts along his body, the scars long healed as he looked into the cold eyes of a changeling.
All that was put aside when he just thought of the constant noise, the buzzing, the yelling, the cries of pain. His need to defend what he held dear with nothing but what he had in his hooves. He could still remember the feel of a rock impacting against his helmet, making his head ring as he aimed his rifle at the vile changeling and pulling the lever to fire. The bang rang out as the bug fell to the ground.
But that wasn’t it. There weren’t firearms in the Wedding Invasion. The changelings never threw small rocks.
Stock came back to his senses, his eyes drawn down to the rifle in his hooves, the smoke trailing from the end of its barrel, and lastly to what it was pointed towards.
Just before him was a still figure, red liquid pooling beneath it as it lay prone. It was a bat pony, barely into their adulthood, a small sign down at the ground before them as it fell.
Stock looked back down to his rifle, still feeling the echo of the recoil against his chest. He looked around, at the other guards looking at him in shock, at the protesters feeling in fear at one of their own falling and lastly at the castle, where all he held dear was protected.
What had he done?