"I don't want to go!" Flurry cried behind her door.
Luna sat outside of her niece's room as the younger alicorn threw her tantrum. She heard stomps and crying along with the crashing and banging of things being pulled down and thrown around. A glance at Spike's worried expression finally strengthened her resolve to make a move. "Go get some ice cream," she whispered to him.
He gave a nod then scurried off.
"Flurry, may I come in?"
"No!"
Another crash and Luna winced. The noise had stopped after that save for Flurry's crying, the older alicorn remained at the door until Spike came back with a tub of ice cream and bowls.
"Flurry," Spike started, "I got ice cream!"
Flurry's crying eased off as the door slowly opened, just enough for her magic to envelope the entire tub of ice cream and rapidly pulled it from Spike’s grasp. Luna swiftly encased the ice cream in her own magic and blinked in surprise at the power behind Flurry’s pull. Rather than yank it back she kept the tub of ice cream in place. There was still a hiccup or two from the otherside of the door.
“Flurry, you can have ice cream if you let us in.”
The door opened up a little more, Flurry's face streaked with tears and snot while her eyes were puffy and red. Her wings were disheveled, feathers out of place with desperate need to be preened. She took the bowl Spike offered and shuffled back inside, not closing the door. Luna followed in after her carefully and watched as her niece sat down in the center of the destruction, eating the ice cream and sniffling.
Slowly she approached Flurry and gently nudged a wing. She extended it without a word and Luna began to preen the younger alicorn, making sure the feathers were properly aligned and removing any loose ones. Once she was done with the one wing she moved to the other, Flurry obediently spreading that one as well.
"I'm sorry..." Flurry muttered out as she put the spoon in her bowl.
"It is my fault," Luna said softly as she gently laid a wing over Flurry, "I did not think about how you would feel when I made these plans."
Her niece moved in slightly to cuddle up into her side and they sat in silence. Tiberius came crawling in right up to Flurry and she pulled him up into a hug that caused the little opossum to squeak.
"We do not have to go."
Flurry looked up to Luna and sniffled some more. She rubbed at her face with a hoof and shook her head. "N-no. We should go."
"But-"
"I'm a big filly! I can go!"
Luna smiled gently at her and leaned her head down to kiss Flurry on the forehead. "Let us get you cleaned up, and then we clean up this mess. We can talk more about it in the morning, okay?"
"Okay..."
The sun was just beginning to rise over the waters as the ship pulled into the port of Aquila. Luna fussed with Flurry's mane, making sure it was just right while Spike carried Tiberius on his shoulder. As the ship docked their escorts were waiting for them on the pier, large enough for a motor carriage that waited for the visitors.
"I hate boats," Flurry complained as she walked down the gangway with Spike and Tiberius right behind her.
Luna followed last as the griffon and pony Aquileians brought them over to the motor carriage. As they shuffled in Luna's eyes widened at the sight of who was already inside.
"Bonjour, Princess Luna," Vivienne said. "Princess Flurry Heart, Spike. And hello to you too, Tiberius."
The opossum let out a little squeak in return.
"Queen Vivienne, I am surprised. I thought we were to meet at the palace?"
"It is still early in the day, Princess. If it were lunch time then yes, but with the day just beginning I thought to treat you all to breakfast in the heart of Aquila. Welcome, my guests, to the City of Light."
The motor carriage took off, rumbling along. Flurry and Spike both tried to look out the windows as they passed out of the docks and onto the roads, many of the buildings by the docks were quite modern for an ancient city, with plenty of warehouses marring the aesthetic.
"The docks were the first to be renovated after the First Revolution," Vivienne explained, "though not to the extent as the effort put in elsewhere, but as a port city they must needs be the best for the flow of trade. Many ships from around the world used to come here. Sadly with the Empire on the rise our friends to the north do not come as often as they used to, and our rivalry with Wingbardy has seen trade with them grow more restricted as well."
The car passed along new construction, ponies and griffons working side by side as steel beams were lifted to secure the skeleton of the building.
"Whoa. I remember seeing something like that in Manehattan, before..." Spike blinked. "Apartment buildings?"
"Quite right. We have been long in the process of expanding. Aquileia has always had a sizable population of ponies, even prior to the founding of New Mareland, so we built in respects to our equine friends rather than the traditional methods griffons use across the continent. Unlike Griffenheim or Karthin we have always been on the forefront of modernization."
As they traveled through the city Vivienne would explain whatever Spike or Flurry pointed out. Wide streets, new businesses and homes, all the splendor of Aquila for them to witness. Spike pointed out the window and when Vivienne looked she scowled.
"Trinity Hill. The temples to Boreas, Eyr, and Arcturius stand upon the highest point in the city. Traditionally the new monarch is crowned there, and once a year we honor Princess Giselda's sacrifice."
"Sacrifice?" Flurry asked.
"She was made to marry Grover II after her father's failed rebellion against the tyranny of the Empire.” Vivienne’s beak was gritted as she spoke..
The queen rapped her knuckles on the partition between them and the chauffeur. It lowered and the guard in the front seat passed a cigarette off into her waiting talons. She rolled the window down and then the guard lit it for her.
Luna could not help but watch as the queen took a drag on the cigarette and expertly blew smoke from her nares right out the window. The hen crossed one leg over the other as she looked at the window, glaring at Trinity Hill as if her gaze could cause the temples to collapse. As Vivienne took another long drag she glanced over and Luna quickly averted her gaze but could see the queen raise a brow in her peripheral vision.
Eventually they rumbled to a stop and the door on Luna's side opened. She stepped out first, carrying Tiberius on her back and then followed by Flurry and Spike. They stood in front of a little cafe, one absolutely empty save for some nervous waiters ready to tend to them. They were ushered to a table and menus placed before them. Vivienne joined them soon enough and sat down with a smile.
"I thought to introduce you to a traditional Aquileian breakfast in the early morning at a proper cafe. Do not worry about paying, everything is already taken care of."
With a clap of her hands the waiters returned, carrying small trays of food and placed them down. Four bowls of coffee were laid out, along with small baguettes sliced in half with butter and an array of jellies and jams. Freshly baked croissants were laid down, hints of chocolate inside of them. Finally, glasses of orange juice came last.
Vivienne took a small bit of raspberry jam and spread it on her buttered baguette then dipped it in the coffee before taking a bite.
"Mm, there is nothing like an Aquileian breakfast!" she gushed before she dipped the bread back into the coffee.
Luna swiftly followed their host in doing the same, though she put a jelly of mixed berries on hers to dip. Flurry furrowed her brow in confusion as she sniffed the coffee in the bowl while Spike shoveled a few of the chocolate-filled croissants into his mouth then washed them down with some orange juice. Tiberius nibbled on a little bit of bread and jam that Luna had offered him.
"Am I supposed to be having this? Isn't coffee for adults?"
Vivienne chuckled softly as she dabbed her beak clean. "Cafe au lait is a common breakfast dish in Aquileia, Princess Flurry. Please, use your favorite jam on your baguette and dip it in the bowl, it is fantastic."
Still disbelieving, Flurry did as directed and her eyes widened as she chewed.
"Spike, please mind you manners, and leave some for me too," Luna chided the drake with a little smile.
"Let him eat, Princess Luna, it means he just loves our food so much! I am sure there will be more croissants."
They ate in comfortable silence until Spike let out a belch which caused Flurry to burst into giggles and Luna cracked a grin. Vivienne raised a brow, and then her glass of juice.
“There are many ways to show approval of a meal, sometimes the simplest ones are the best,” the Queen said with a smile.
Eventually their plates were emptied and glasses drained, the sun a little higher than when they sat down. With full bellies they all gave thanks to the servers and shuffled back into the car before it took off to the royal palace.
The Domaine Royal was the center of power in Aquileia, where the palaces and offices for those keeping the great state running were located. As they pulled up to the royal manor an array of Aquileian soldiers stood at the ready along with a number of servants. This time the car had pulled up so that Vivienne could leave first, then followed by the children and finally Luna.
"Welcome, dear guests, to my chateau," Vivienne said with a cheeky smile. "Princess Flurry, Spike, you may have the rest of the day to yourselves around the palace. Your studies will begin tomorrow."
"Studies?" they both asked in unison.
Luna nodded. "Flurry, just because we are no longer in Sunset does not mean you can avoid the books. Spike, you never had a formal education, and so Queen Vivienne is graciously providing the both of you this opportunity."
"Please princess, living with Twilight was like being at school 24/7!"
"Be that as it may, it is good to get a proper education, and there is not much need for loyal assistants when Queen Vivienne has many others to do that."
"As for you, princess," the queen said with a smirk as she motioned for Luna to follow, "your studies begin now."
Free to go about as they pleased, Spike and Flurry took off to wander the halls under the watchful eyes of some servants while Vivienne led Luna deeper in, walking through halls with such luxuries that she had never seen before, not even in the castle of Canterlot.
"Even back home I have never seen such a wondrous array of trophies and baubles lining the halls."
"Is it perhaps Equestrians are more modest, in spite of your usual lack of clothing?" Vivienne said with a glance over her shoulder and a slight smile. “Of course, beauty is to be appreciated.”
Luna raised a brow slightly. "Perhaps."
Vivienne brought Luna into a study, one which already had a large table set up. The princess could see that it had a terrain map on it, along with little models to better represent combat maneuvers. As the griffon walked up she motioned for Luna to stand across from her. Glancing around, she noted very subtle changes in the coloration of the wooden walls and some of the furniture.
"How recently was this room redone?"
"Hm? Keen eye, princess. Some years ago, after my father's murder. I had his office reorganized."
"Of course. My condolences, truly."
Vivienne scoffed as she picked up a metal piece off of the table. "I would fill Rumare Lake with tears for Equestria than shed a one for him."
Luna was taken aback by her words for a moment, but recovered as old memories sparked . "I... understand."
An eyebrow raised. "I find that hard to believe, princess."
"No, no, it's true. My sister and I were raised by Star Swirl the Bearded, and he was not a kindly caretaker. Mainly, he did not seem to understand how to raise two fillies. So when he disappeared... I felt nothing."
Vivienne waved her hand a little as she reached into the pockets lining the inside of her coat to pull out a case of cigarettes.
"Father knew how to raise a griffon cub. Nannies and governesses and all that every noble has in their employ. Care for a smoke?"
"Did you not have to have a guard pass you one in the car?"
The queen smiled broadly. "I did, yes. Now, would you care for one?"
"Ah, no thank you."
Vivienne shrugged and lit hers up then took in a deep drag before she blew out some smoke to the side.
"Now then, first things first is to learn all about logistics! Where to put the supply hubs, how to disperse ammunition depots, ensuring mechanics can repair your vehicles and war machines, all of the most important parts of running a military!"
Luna carefully stepped up to the set up table as she gave a nod to the Queen. She couldn’t remember the last time she was lectured, but if the Queen was anything like Star Swirl, she was about to face a dreadful afternoon after such a wondrous breakfast.