Using her magic, Luna lifted the large coronation cape from the mannequin it was resting upon towards herself. She placed it upon her shoulders and fastened the two little clasps on the cape together, one shaped like the sun and the other like the moon. The cape was of a deep blue, the color of the night sky speckled with twinkling silver stars. Its lining -- made from the fur of a royal white fox, an extremely rare creature of the realm -- was meant to remind to all that only Equestrian sovereigns were worthy of such a garment.
It used to be that there were two coronation capes: one for Luna, and one for her sister. The two capes completed each other, so that whereas on Luna’s the colors were dark and reminiscent of the moon and the stars, Celestia’s cape was of the purest white, and adorned with gold-woven suns.
To Luna’s memory, there had been only one single time where both her and her sister had worn those capes. It was on the day they were crowned as Princesses of Equestria, after having defeated Discord and trapping the demon in stone.
Celestia had always thought the decorum to be a little over-the-top. For her it was not the clothing, but noble acts that made one a princess. Luna had always thought the contrary, or at least that regal clothing was essential to the affirmation of regal power.
At her sister’s funeral, Luna had insisted that she be inhumed in great fashion and according to good protocol. The ceremony was held in the royal gardens, and all residents of Equestria had made the journey there to pay a last tribute to Celestia. Luna had personally draped her sister’s face with a sheet of silk before letting the royal guard carry her into the earth. According to the instructions Celestia herself had left behind, each pony was invited to throw their own hoofful of dirt so that the entire population may participate in the funeral of their sovereign. Luna felt that it was a breach of regal protocol, but decided to grant her sister’s final wishes.
After a brief speech, the sole remaining Princess of Equestria let the sun shine for an entire day as a tribute to her sister. All through that long day and afterwards, entire groups of ponies had made the trip to Celestia’s grave to offer up flowers, poems, jewelry, and any general token of affection for their leader.
This show of love from one people to its leader had moved Luna deeply.
The sadness left in the wake of Celestia’s leaving was soon mingled with a widespread feeling of anger towards what the people considered to be intolerance and injustice. It didn’t seem fair to anypony that Equestria’s reward for opening itself to the outside world should be the death of its princess. It was the reason why earth ponies, unicorns, and pegasi alike fervently applauded Luna when she declared that she would join the Central Powers in the war that was to come.
Equestria had chosen war; and it was so, that a nation that had always placed harmony, love and tolerance above all else was suddenly hit with a wave of madness and demanded human blood to pay for the blood shed by its fallen
princess.
It was then that Luna had openly encouraged any willing pony to take arms and to join the German and Austro-Hungarian armies as an expeditionist corps. The pegasi had massively joined the war as such, while the two other races had preferred to stay behind and support the war effort, by helping workers in the Triple Alliance with their factories or by harvesting the land so as to send more goods to the front.
Luna carefully placed her jet black crown on her head, making sure that not a hair on her mane got stuck in its folds. The Supreme Leader of Equestria had to be absolutely irreproachable in appearance and manner. Finally, she put on her black plastron bearing a white moon before turning back slowly and examining herself in the mirror.
Every little thing was now neatly in its proper place.
Luna took a few steps to the massive doors that separated her room from the rest of the palace. She closed her eyes, and took a deep breath that she held in her lungs for a few seconds before letting it out in a swift huff. She then forced herself to adopt a stern, imperial look before magically opening the doors and stepping through.
The two royal guards assigned to her security gave a bow in salute to their leader before escorting her silently to the throne room. As she advanced in the large corridors of the palace, she couldn’t help but to notice how silent it had become since the death of her older sister. She looked at the beautiful stained glass windows on which the glorious history of Equestria had been painted. As she passed in front of the window depicting the fall of Discord, she felt a tear pearl up at the corner of her eye, which she immediately blinked away after cursing her weakness. She couldn't let the past hold her down: she was the ruler of Equestria, and an empress no less! She had a country to look after and a nation to lead to victory.
The throne room, which the alicorn had just entered, had been greatly modified ever since the first days of her rule.
The golden throne, along with its fountains, had been preserved, but Luna insisted on having the flag of Equestria's three founding tribes placed on the inside back. Luna hoped that the symbolic force behind that banner would help her in her rule. The empress went to her throne, made herself comfortable, and gave the order to her guards to start the day's meetings with a nod.
Luna was glad to see that Rarity, one of her most zealous diplomats, was the first audience of the day. The unicorn bowed before her sovereign, who then made her rise.
"We are most pleased to see you, Lady Rarity. How did you fare with your assignment in Vienna?"
"My mission ended with...mixed results, to be honest," replied the diplomat. "While the Austro-Hungarian plenipotentiaries are satisfied with the shipment of ammunition and gold, the German officers wish for a stronger military help. The battle of the Somme and the battle of Verdun came at a great cost for the kaiser's army. He calls to his allies for help to get a handle on the situation."
Luna started grinding her teeth, a gesture which - although unbecoming of her rank - showed exactly how she was feeling.
"We have already told Wilhelm II that any pony willing to fight has left for the front lines long ago !
"Some German diplomats have suggested..."Rarity seemed to be at a loss for words.
"...Conscription." she said quickly, knowing full well that this idea did not sit well with the empress.
"Absolutely not," snapped Luna," We will not go down in history as the ruler who pushed her subjects to fight against their will. Any pony, pegasus, or unicorn who wishes to join the battlefield and defend our nation can do so today. The rest of our nation stands back and fights its own way, by working in factories, mines, and farms until the final battle is won. Or by working at our side, like you do, Lady Rarity."
The alicorn had a pause, gathering her wits before continuing.
"Therefore, conscription is not an option for Equestria unless the gravity of the situation gives us no other choice. For now, as much as the kaiser disapproves, it will remain that way. Are We clear?"
"Crystal clear, your Highness."
Luna rose from her throne and started walking throughout the room, which she usually did when she was thinking.
"That being said, Wilhelm is right about one thing: the outcome of this war might depend on numbers, and on that field the Central Powers trump the Allies. The Russian borders should be secured once and for all and Italy should be the target for a massive assault. Once Rome falls, we could attack France by the South and defeat it once its troops are on the northern front."
Rarity simply nodded. Ever since the opening of the Italian border, which was met with great fear since after all, the Alps were the only thing separating the Boot from the Empire, many ponies reached the conclusion that this was the key element to ending the war.The western front was blocked since the first months of the war, and that front seemed blocked both by the size of Russia and its massive amount of soldiers, which could allow Russia to take hit after hit without falling.
"I'm afraid I have more bad news, your Majesty."
"Speak, We are listening."
"Reports of the casualties on the Romanian front have just reached us. Trixie the magician is one of them. She fell at the battle of Bucharest."
"The Great and Powerful Trixie?" asked the Empress with an eyebrow raised, before her expression darkened when Rarity nodded.
"This victory came at a high cost for our nation."
Rarity could only nod once more. The late unicorn's vanity did not matter much, as it was only for her ego that she joined the fight. What did matter was that she had become an icon, as she was one of the very few unicorns who dirtied their hooves on the battlefield. This was a symbolic loss more than a loss of power, since Trixie's magical prowess would not affect the Empire.
"We must fill this gap as soon as possible," muttered Luna, as she observed Canterlot through one of the many windows of the throne room. "The battles to the east are already difficult, and the loss of morale that Trixie's death will bring will only slow down our progress. Do you know of any other unicorn who could take her place?"
Twilight was the first thing that came to Rarity's mind.
"Actually, your Highness, there might be someone: our late princess' protégé and my friend, Twilight Sparkle. But I doubt I could convince her to..."
Luna's eyes became clouded with memories.
"The young Sparkle. It was she who led your group when you freed me from Nightmare Moon, was she not?"
"Yes your Highness," confirmed Rarity, keeping the fact that Luna spoke in the first person to herself,"but I was thinking: couldn't we use the Elements of Harmony to win the war? It is Equestria's most powerful form of magic, isn't it?"
"You just hit the nail on the head, Lady Rarity," said the Empress as she walked throughout the room once more."The Elements have no limit to their powers within Equestria's borders. But We have no idea what they could do in the Human world: they could either destroy everything, or produce nothing more than a spark. One way or another, it would be much too dangerous to rely on them to win. A conflict of this magnitude is not won by relying on chance."
Luna put a hoof to her eyes, which were getting heavy due to weariness.
"You may leave now, Rarity. You may take a few days to rest alongside your loved ones before taking a new assignment. We will keep you informed."
The unicorn bowed once more.
"Thank you, your Majesty. But before I leave, may I ask you a favor?"
After a nod, the diplomat continued.
"My friend Applejack was banned from Equestria following the events which unfolded at Sweet Apple Acres.
And your Highness must surely know how much she means to me. Moreover, she is an Element of Harmony, the same way Twilight and I are. I am convinced she could serve the crown well, if she were forgiven."
"We have already discussed the issue with the Elements," said the Empress drily, "and even if we were to use them, Applejack has already been judged and condemned. She is forbidden from staying in Equestria."
"But all you need to do is-"
"NO!"
Luna was always careful not to use the Royal Canterlot Voice, except when she needed to emphasise a word or a point. Rarity feared her ears light implode.
"APPLEJACK THE FARMER DARED GO AGAINST OUR WISHES, WHICH IS WHY SHE WAS PUNISHED!"
Then the Empress used a calmer tone.
"Nevertheless, We understand your concerns. We might be ready to forgive your friend if her apology is sincere, but only when the war is over. Until then, We must stand our ground when making decisions."
Rarity simply nodded, and made to leave the room with a defeated expression when Luna stopped her.
"One last thing, Lady Rarity. We will surely reconsider your friend's situation if you manage to convince Twilight Sparkle that joining the fight is in her best interest."
The unicorn immediately understood what the Empress was suggesting: manipulate Twilight so that Applejack might return. Rarity felt dirty by thinking about tricking Twilight, but if it was the only way to clear Applejack's name, she had to try. She nodded once before leaving.
The Empress, left alone in the throne room, had the meetings suspended for a moment. She made her way towards a small door at the back of the room, pushed it open and walked down a narrow flight of stairs. After a few minutes, she arrived at the walkway of a large circular work room, where dozens of ponies in white blouses - albeit covered in grease - ran around, working on maps, charts and schematics. It was in this room that research was made to create the technology that would allow Equestria and the Central Powers to win the war. Ponies, who were well accustomed to Zeppelins, had allowed the development of German and Austrian Zeppelins in exchange for the creation of the Equestrian Empire's first boats.
Since they rarely had encounters with the ocean, ponies were very reluctant to go through a 'trial by fire' with their boats, which were staying under the watchful eye of the Austro-Hungarian army at the bay of Pula. However, Equestrian scientists were fascinated by submarines and amphibian technology in general. The latest developments in U-Boat research would not have been possible without the help of the Empire.
From her elevated position, Luna's eyes searched for those she came looking for, which she found after a few seconds. The Flim-Flam brothers, who once sold cider, were quick to offer their services as inventors to the crown. Their encouraging results made Luna name the twins head of R&D. Their only condition was to have most of the credit for their research and to only answer for their actions to the Empress. She had accepted, convinced by the brilliant victory at the castle of Hooge, which was achieved thanks to the changes made to the German flame-throwers, courtesy of the Flim-Flam Bros.
Flam, the youngest of the two, who was identified by his ginger mustache, was working with two other ponies on schematics for new battleships. He looked at the walkway, saw the alicorn, and hurried to join her. She couldn't explain how, but a few seconds later the twins were by her side.
"Hello, your Majesty! Are there good news from the fronts?" asked Flim enthusiastically.
"Some," said Luna with a stoic expression,"but we are still facing our enemies at the East and West, and Russia refuses to fall."
"It won't for much longer, ma'am," said Flam with a triumphant look, "because you'll be happy to know..."
"...that thanks to our latest changes to the German U-boats..."
"...the kaiser will soon be able to officially start an unlimited underwater war!"
Luna was hardly surprised to see how each brother completed the other's sentence. Most of the time, it was as though Flim and Flam were two recipients for the same spirit. When she and Celestia were foals, they also gave off that impression.
"Wilhelm will no doubt appreciate your zealousness, gentlemen," added the Empress as she walked slowly along the walkway, occasionally looking at the work happening below. "The embargo will no doubt weaken our enemies, but We do not think that it will grant us a much-needed victory. And Equestria needs a triumph, gentlemen; a quick and glorious triumph. But we tackle these issues in the right order: first Russia, then Italy, and finally France. How is research going on those countries?"
"The latest prototype of Zeppelins..."
"...has just been delivered to the French Flanders. If the results are encouraging..."
"...we could consider a grand scale air raid over London and Paris to break the spirits of the populace and push them towards signing a peace treaty."
Luna couldn't help but agree. Equestrian zeppelins, and anything relating to aerial combat, was without a doubt the Empire strongest asset.
"Excellent. And as for Russia?"
The twins suddenly looked embarrassed.
"Truth be told, ma'am, we aren't optimistic about our chances of victory against the East," said Flam, nervously tugging on his mustache.
"The Russian Empire is simply too big and decentralised for the raids to do any lasting damage," said Flim," not to mention our troops don't have the necessary bases to allow the launch of zeppelins. Even though the front is slow, it is still moving."
"So you do not have any solution for our problems in the East?" concluded Luna, looking miffed.
"We have a project in the works, but its still in the early stages," said the youngest of the twins.
"The idea is extremely simple, but difficult to apply," added Flim.
"We are listening."
"We're not sure of anything yet! We wouldn't want to bother your Highness with-"
"We. Are. Listening," said Luna in a cold voice.
"Basically," explained Flim,"we're looking for a way to focus magic within a projectile, which would be thrown at enemy cities and bases from a zeppelin, a plane, or even by a pegasus.
"How much magic are we talking?" asked Luna, who was quite intrigued in their idea.
"A lot, your Majesty. Large, huge quantities," said Flam with a grim expression,"which is the main problem we have: harnessing that much energy while keeping it under our control.
"But if this weapon were to be made," added Flim excitedly,"its power would surpass by far any technology used during this war. One magic bomb, just one...and we could level an entire capital of the Central Forces. Their forces would surrender without a second thought, shaking in their boots at the sight of our weapon."
"It could put an end to the war, your Majesty. An end to any war. No one else would dare go up against Equestria and its allies."
Luna stayed silent for a moment, with a heavy heart, imagining that the brothers' project might come to be - and the Moon knew that those unicorns had untangled problems much more twisted than this - and wondering if this weapon would be ethically usable. Yes, it would kill hundreds and hundreds of people, most of them civilians if it were used on a city, but how many ponies and men had already fallen? Would a few hundred more be acceptable for the sake of world peace? She had to give this a lot of thought.
"Continue your work, gentlecolts. We are most pleased with you."
The unicorns bowed while the Empress went back to the throne room. While she was climbing back up the stairs, Luna couldn't stop the little voice in her head, hidden in the depths of her mind, which whispered that such a weapon would be the miracle the Empire was waiting for to win the war once and for all and guarantee Equestria's safety.
And, aditionnally, to prove to mankind that killing an Equestrian princess was undoubtedly a very bad idea.