Two sisters, two alicorns stood on the balcony and watched the dawn, the beginning of a new day. With the fatigue characteristic of the Moon after the night shift, through the emerging yawn, she said:
"Sister… I have a question for you."
Celestia immediately turned around and looked at her closely.
"I'm listening to you, Luna."
"And what if everything is bad with friendship. It seems that no one will ever communicate closely with you… But suddenly there is someone who does not see in you only the former Nightmoon, does not want to try to use you for their own selfish purposes… Does he just see you as an ordinary pony?" Luna shared her feelings with a note of sadness.
"And who is this pony?" Celestia asked with a smile, but then immediately shook her head. "No, no. Don't tell me who he is, but tell me one thing: do you want to see him as a friend, not just an acquaintance?"
"yes! Luna shouted. "But... if he becomes a friend, then I'm doomed to watch him grow old and die while I'm still sitting on the throne. This… I don't know. On the one hand, I want to be able to have a heart-to-heart talk with someone else, have fun or be sad, but that will make it scarier every day." The blue alicorn finished in a drooping voice.
Celestia came closer and put her left arm around her sister, comfortingly hugging her.
"Don't be afraid, my little sister. Don't be afraid of life or its rules. Or do you think that just me, Twilight and Cadence are enough for you? After all, there will be not only pain, but also warmth and joy in the soul that there was such an old friend. Do you want to feel like a simple pony? So act!"
"I think you're right… Sister, Tia, can you help me?" suddenly the moon suddenly asked for help.
"of course." The white alicorn answered her warmly.
The moon turned back to sunrise. Her eyes closed for a couple of seconds, but in another second she opened them again, fixing her gaze on the flaming ball.
"I want to go to Gryphonstone tomorrow. Could you take over, taking over some of my responsibilities?"
It took the white pony some time to think over the words of her younger and only sister. Having come to some conclusions, the mare involuntarily got out a silly grin and lilac eyes sparkled with genuine interest.
"And this certain case is not our straightforward, a little stubborn and a lover of working late "stallion"?" Celestia asked innocently, emphasizing the last word. And the grin never left her sly little face with narrowed eyes.
Luna couldn't help but giggle with her sister's expression and tone.
"Everything is a stallion to you, yes a stallion. I'm not calling him to marry." Luna answered, laughing openly.
"Who knows you. And suddenly you ..." the elder alicorn did not have time to finish, but the younger one interrupted her by slapping her right wing on the back of her head.
"It's more likely that you're fooling him… Although not. Such a well-fed croup like yours, he will definitely not be interested." Luna said mockingly.
At such a statement, Celestia neighed indignantly, stomping on it with a hoof.
"Okay, okay. A little too much, sister." The blue alicorn retreated. "But seriously, how do you look at it all?"
"Of course, dear sister. I do not refuse my words and I am ready to help you for as long as my strength and time are enough." Celestia nodded.
Luna leaned on her sister and hugged her:
"Thank you, Tia."
"You're welcome, Luna." Celestia replied, accepting her sister's embrace.
***
The brigade commander's deep sleep was disturbed by the army bugle. The bugler cheerfully trumpeted "rise". Chkalov opened his eyes and stretched. The morning rays of the Sun were insistently making their way into the tent. A few seconds and Chkalov threw back the blanket, standing up to his full height. It took another ten minutes to get dressed and go to the morning toilet. Behind the canvas walls of the tent, the sounds of soldiers charging could already be heard.
Having adjusted the belt with a star on the badge, Chkalov left the tent and headed towards the formation. Before Chkalov opened a view of the slender ranks of the Red Army, Stalin's falcons. Everything is as a selection. Without going out to everyone, he listened with interest to Major Kuznetsov's speech and went to the headquarters tent. The day promised to be a quiet work for the analysis of documents and a detailed study of the history of Equestria, maps of the country, political governance. To do this, books from Twilight's personal library have been lying since yesterday evening.
After greeting the commanders sitting at tea, Chkalov took the book "History from the foundation of Equestria to the present day" edited by a certain White Wing, released in the one thousand and first year. With this not-so-thick book, the pilot found a place for himself near a small tree. Putting down a stool, the man took out his reading glasses from his pocket and sat down with his legs crossed.
The first chapter. Unification.
Since the time we know, ponies have been divided into three races: terrestrial, Pegasus and unicorns. All three races worked on a natural exchange. Earth ponies grew food, pegasi set favorable weather for crops, and unicorns raised the Sun and Moon. But they were also no strangers to war and hatred. Most often, these were local conflicts that did not have critical consequences for any party. These were the hardest and darkest times for all ponies.
Everything was changed by the coming cold of the evil spirits of Windigo. Earth ponies could no longer grow food and hungry times came. Nor could the Pegasus destroy the bad weather. At this critical moment, the ponies went to a truce and gathered a council. It set the task for the young leaders to find a new land. Two ponies from each side went on a hike: Princess Platinum and Clover from unicorns, Chancellor Puddinghead and Cookie from Earthpony, Colonel Storm and Privet from Pegasus...
Time passed quickly during the fascinating reading, but it was not the internal clock of the schedule that gave Chkalov to finish, but the foreman appeared as if from under the ground.
"Comrade Commander, you have a visitor. Pegasus Rainbow Dash asks to meet with you." the foreman reported.
Taking off his glasses and closing the book on the fourth chapter, Chkalov nodded and said:
"good. Go back to your post, Sergeant Major. I'll be right there."
Chkalov left the book on the stool and followed the foreman. A rainbow-maned pegasus was waiting for the brigade on the outskirts of the territory. Simple standing bored her after a minute and now she was doing somersaults a meter from the ground. For this action, Chkalov caught her, at the same time measuring her with a puzzled look. Noticing the pilot, she stopped circling and soared into the air, being a head taller than Chkalov.
"Oh, hi. " Pony shouted. There was a distinct note of audacity and impudence in her voice.
"Good morning, Rainbow Dash. What did you come to us with? Do you have any questions about our airfield and the brigade?" Chkalov asked delicately.
If he had been someone else, not a test pilot, not a commander of the Red Army, he would certainly have answered her in the same tone and even more.
"Well, sort of ..." the pegasus answered with uncertainty, scratching the back of her head with a hoof.
Wow... Chkalov thought about the mobility of the joints of the blue pegasus. Our horses definitely can't boast of this.
"I just wanted to talk about your ability to fly." confidence returned to her words. "How did you, so heavy, big and without wings, learn to fly?"
Chkalov glanced imperceptibly at the soldiers on duty. Those, not without a shadow of pride, occasionally glanced at Rainbow Dash. It is clear that it has become a great achievement for wingless creatures like humans to rise into the air and there is definitely no way to do without pride.
Hmm, an exchange of flying skills? This is exactly to my liking, a fighter pilot. Chkalov thought with approval and relented.
Even if she is cheeky, impudent, but she is also suitable for a pilot. There is no respect for the enemy in the sky for fighters. It is necessary to behave impudently, without showing your fear and inexperience.
"good. I ask you to come to my tent to discuss your questions." Chkalov waved his hand, beckoning Pegasus to follow him. "Just do not leave me a step, after all, this is a military territory and it is forbidden to outsiders on its borders. But for the element of harmony, the princess's best friend, an exception can be made." he warned, noticing the curious look of the rainbow-maned pony in the direction of flight crew training.
Chkalov had nothing to hide from the pony, but it was very hard to miss teasing the filly. After passing through half of the town, they entered under a tarpaulin shelter. There was nothing interesting for the pony here, except maybe a tablet and a small, carelessly folded stack of documents. But the one who might be interested is Twilight.
Sitting on a stool, Chkalov invited the guest to settle down on his couch, it was in any case softer than a hard wooden chair without a back. Look at him, he'll fall off him on the floor.
"Well, ask." said Chkalov and crossed his arms in anticipation.
Pegasus curled her muzzle:
"Please, let's not have these "You" and the like. Just call me Dash." (A little explanation: in Russian, they respectfully address Vy, and to a friend ty. I do not know how to translate this feature of the Russian language into English.) suddenly pony's familiarity began.
After thinking for a few seconds, Chkalov nodded affirmatively.
"Valera. he smiled."
In the first twenty minutes, the questions concerned only the technical part, but the further, the bolder Dash became. Questions from the fighters flowed smoothly into personal ones. Under the stories about the excellent skill of his aerobatics, a small fire of the beginning dispute flared up. Resulted in a full - fledged dispute: who is faster — an experienced pilot and his faithful iron bird or a pony born with wings?
"what? You're a coward and say so!" Dash shouted loudly and excitedly.
Chkalov, who was sitting opposite her, frowned with displeasure at another mockery from the blue pony.
"no! Do you even know what we'll get for this? You don't know about the consequences, so keep quiet." once again the pilot fought back.
The idea of putting an impudent impudent woman in her place more than once slipped through his mind, but he delayed this moment until the last. The blood was boiling with anger, but Chkalov could not prove his case. In theory. But it is not only possible to show the full power of a fighter under his skillful control and at the same time wipe the nose of a rainbow-maned pegasus, but it is also necessary.
"Weakling." Dash grinned, showing her wingspan.
"Good!" This was the last straw. The pilot could not hold on forever, and with a menacing flash of his eyes, the pilot decided to put a firm end to this dispute by taking out a tablet with maps of the Ponyville district and in particular Canterlot. He had seen these maps only briefly, without really studying them. "You will remember this day. I accept your challenge tomorrow on the new runway. My "Seagull" against your pigeon wings."
"That's the mood! But don't be too happy, I won't give in to you." the pegasus rubbed her hooves contentedly.
"Because you're going to lose, Dash."
"Is that me? Yes, I have never lost a race among the clouds."
"And without a sound rainbow?" Chkalov suddenly asked with a grin.
According to Twilight's stories yesterday, he roughly understood what this pegasus was capable of. And while it was not possible to develop such a speed on the "Donkey" or "Seagull". But the designers are not standing still and there will be new fighters: faster, more maneuverable.
"Yes, it's easy. I'll beat you in no time. Only then, Valera, will you fly along the Canterlot itself over the very edge of the houses." Rainbow laughed and looked down her pride at the man. She has no lack of confidence.
The pilot, without showing how nervous he was from the last condition, unfolded the maps and began to show the route of the future race with a pencil.
"From Ponyville, through thick clouds at high altitude, make three dead loops in a row and a barrel. Then five kilometers along the border of the evergreen forest, fly to the city… And fly through Canterlot without taking off above twenty-five meters from buildings. And remember, no rainbows from under the tail." the man explained the upcoming flight.
"It's coming! "Well, I've got to go now."
Pegasus got up and stretched her wings and went to the exit, followed by Chkalov. He was already tired of sitting and was glad to see the end of this meeting.
Coming out into the light of God, the mare turned to the pilot and smiled a little.
"Well, see you later." and rose into the air.
"See you later." Chkalov answered her.
After seeing her off, he walked towards the dining room. From these conversations, a brutal appetite woke up in him, and it played that the brigade commander did not go to breakfast.
"So, well, let's see what our cooks have cooked there." Chkalov said softly.
He couldn't get it out of his head: what kind of punishment would follow for a malicious violation. The question is not whether it will be or not, the question is only to what extent. You can abandon this idea, but it was definitely not in the spirit of an air reckless driver.
***
A medium-sized young brown-eyed man entered Chuikov's office, who was sitting in his usual place. Completely shaved in the ironed form of a political commissar, he quickly put his hand and uttered the usual greeting to everyone:
"I wish you good health, Comrade Lieutenant General. Lieutenant Nazimov has arrived on your orders."
Chuikov looked through the glasses of his glasses at the lieutenant in the form of a political worker and took a folder marked "secret" from the left edge of the table.
After opening and reading something, he returned his gaze to Nazimov.
"At ease, Artem Georgievich." Chuikov smiled and took off his glasses. "How to serve under the guise of a political instructor?"
"Yes, everything is fine, Comrade Lieutenant General. Except that it is only hard to work, there is a large flow of various kinds of documents." the scout complained. "I have no intention in the current situation to begin acquaintance with potential informants."
"Nothing, nothing. The better you get into your role, the more chances you have of completing your assigned task. But not about that now. In your case, an excellent possession of a radio transmitter is indicated ..." Chuikov stared at Nazimov, letting him know that confirmation of this information is expected from him.
"That's right. I am a radio operator and a recruiter." Nazimov answered affirmatively.
"Then I will need you tomorrow in a diplomatic mission. Your task will be as follows: to transmit information to Equestria from me personally, getting in touch three times a day. Indirectly show their sympathy for the griffins and hatred of the Communist Party. It is better to find support in the form of an official or a diplomat. Is everything clear?" Chuikov finished.
"That's right, Comrade Lieutenant General. Permission to go?" Nazimov said and stood at attention.
"Go ahead." Chuikov nodded.
The lieutenant turned around and went out the door, leaving Chuikov alone again. But it didn't last long. After a while, someone knocked on his door again, and this time it was not a man, but a pony. More precisely, Princess Luna. She was here for the first time since the establishment of the Red Army command staff in this wing.
"Good afternoon, Princess Luna." Chuikov greeted her with some surprise at her appearance.
"And the same to you, Vasily Ivanovich." Luna nodded back. "I wanted to talk about tomorrow and, in particular, the diplomatic mission to Gryphonstone."
"good. Have a seat." Chuikov pointed with his hand to the chair opposite him. "What kind of questions are you interested in? Maybe requests?"
"Not really." Blue Alicorn began. "To put it bluntly, I'm going to go with you tomorrow, Vasily Ivanovich. I will act as an outside observer and help you conclude contracts on favorable terms."
From such a statement of the princess Chuikov was a little taken aback, but having mastered himself, he asked an intriguing question:
"Why?"
"It's in Equestria's best interests, too. Your consents will directly affect the pony. — the Moon gave a logical answer.
"And that's right ..." Chuikov said softly, but a little later the chase turned back to the princess. "I don't mind your presence, and even more, it will be nice for me to see someone familiar from the ponies at these delegations."
"That's nice." the mare smiled, pleased with this answer. "I'm not saying goodbye, I'll see you tonight in the secret archives."
Luna turned around and left the office.
"And what are your real intentions on this trip, Princess Luna?" Chuikov drawled thoughtfully and without guessing returned to work. The day promised to be stably difficult, not foreshadowing anything bad. The reports from the districts were good, except for rare moments with the supply of fuel.
***
The night covered Equestria with its soft embrace, plunging the inhabitants into a serene sleep. Only Canterlot continued to live after sunset. Nightclubs and bars worked, aristocrats and nobles gathered for private parties, where courtiers wove their insignificant intrigues, and played billiards and poker… But not in the mansion of the dignitary Redray.
Behind the curtained windows, by the light of magical lamps, twelve ponies were sitting at an oval table. All of them were, to the very last, rich and influential pony aristocrats. Untouched expensive snacks and champagne spoke of the importance of their conversation today.
"Gentlemen, we cannot delay." The red unicorn declared hoarsely. "With every hour of our delay, the enemy is only getting stronger, but not us."
"Not at all, Mr. Redray." Black pegasus, who was sitting at the other end of the table, objected to him. "Our influence on the rest of the nobility goes accordingly. And we are about to win over the majority to our side. But you are right about one thing - procrastination can cost us all our efforts."
"good. I heard you, Mr. Blackbelly. How are things with the Guard, Mr. White Tail?" Radray turned his attention to the white-maned unicorn. "Are they ready to fulfill their duty to the whole Equestria?"
"Ready, Mr. Redray. But what will the mob say?" the stallion asked an intriguing question in response.
The red unicorn fell silent, considering the answer.
"And what about the rabble?" Another pegasus with a gold monocle exclaimed. "It's not for them, simple ponies, to decide the affairs of the country when it's so important. Let them stay at home and keep their heads down. In extreme cases, the loudest ones are taken into custody until the circumstances are clarified."
"And yet, it will be better if the townspeople are for us, and not against us… Well, if it doesn't work out, then we will act with a tough method," the green unicorn with emerald eyes quietly added.
"I agree with Mr. Emireld." White Theil nodded. "The support of the masses is in our own interests. Just imagine, gentlemen, if the whole of Canterlot is for us, then the princesses will have to agree with our decision."
"If the information from our informant is correct, then the day after tomorrow at seven in the morning Princess Luna and General Chuikov will leave for Gryphonstone." said Redray with a slight smile, much like a grin. "It's decided. Tomorrow at five o'clock in the evening, the Solar Guard should begin to fill the streets unnoticed by everyone, set up reinforced posts in every block, and small detachments should act to arrest all interventionists on the streets of the city. There should be one answer to the questions of citizens: "A curfew has been announced. Please return to your home before it is completely canceled." Everything should be ready by six o'clock. In parallel, a company of experienced guards captures the airfield and controls the road to Canterlot. At seven o'clock, the remaining forces surround the castle and prepare to capture the entire right wing of the third floor. Remember: no one should use combat spells and weapons until the first person killed or wounded. We'll just force everyone to surrender without too much bloodshed. Does anyone have any questions?" the head of the meeting finished, examining the faces of all those present.
"Yes, Mr. Redray. And a lot." Blackbelly said with a frown. "To begin with, there's also Princess Celestia. If she was not convinced by simple words, then our uprising in her presence in the city will give only one thing — our arrest and purges of all officials and aristocrats close to her." the black pegasus finished on a sad note.
"It's simple. In Mainhatten, a strike at several factories and factories will be staged a couple of hours before the start of the uprising. The city authorities, bribed by us, will turn to the princess for help and she will not be in Canterlot for at least six months." The red unicorn explained with a smile.
"Then another question, Mr. Redray. Against us stands, albeit a small, but still a trained army, perfectly proficient in its high-tech weapons. What can we do against them if a fight starts?" asked a logical, but therefore so terrible question White Teil.
"It won't start." Redray replied firmly and confidently. "Any attack on the ponies will be considered by the princesses and the entire government as a declaration of war. None of their officers will allow their soldiers to attack." when finished, the unicorn examined everyone and added. "If I have answered all your questions, then please read the plan in more detail."
A servant immediately entered and handed everyone an envelope with a sealing wax seal. Opening it, everyone saw one sheet with a map, another with a plan of all actions up to the minute.
"And then you can ask more subtle questions and adjustments to the plan." said Redray, sipping and wetting his throat with champagne from his glass…